Trade gold with FxPro

Platforms for gold trading

FxPro supports gold trading on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and the FxPro app. MT4 is the industry standard with a huge library of custom indicators and Expert Advisors. MT5 offers faster backtesting and more order types. cTrader is known for its intuitive interface and advanced charting.

All platforms give you access to XAU/USD with the spread your account type carries and the ability to set stop-loss and take-profit orders. Australian traders can use any of these platforms on desktop, web, or mobile, so you can manage gold positions from anywhere.

Funding from Australia and account types

FxPro accepts funding from Australia via bank transfer and card payments. Bank transfers may take one to three business days, while card payments are often faster, though processing times vary by provider. All deposits and withdrawals are processed in your chosen base currency, which can be AUD, USD, or other major currencies.

FxPro offers several account types, including Standard, Raw Spread, and Zero accounts, each with different spread and commission structures. For gold trading, the cost you pay depends on the account type and platform, so compare the exact conditions before choosing.

The honest risk and regulation note

FxPro is licensed by the FCA (UK) and CySEC. It does not hold an ASIC licence, so Australian residents deal with an offshore entity. This means you may not have the same protections as with an ASIC-regulated broker, so check this before funding.

Trading gold CFDs is high risk. Leverage can amplify both profits and losses, and you can lose more than your initial deposit. At the maximum leverage available in Australia of 1:200, a 0.10-lot gold position needs about $85.50 margin, but a small adverse move can wipe out that margin quickly. Always use stop-loss orders and risk only what you can afford to lose.

How to open and fund an account

Opening an account with FxPro is straightforward: visit the FxPro website, complete the online application, and verify your identity with a passport or driver's licence and a recent utility bill. The process usually takes less than a day.

Once approved, log in to the FxPro Direct portal, choose your account type and base currency, and make a deposit via bank transfer or card. Then download your preferred platform, search for XAU/USD, and you are ready to trade. Start with a demo account if you want to test the platform first.

Which FxPro entity serves Australian residents and what that means for protections

Australian residents are served by FxPro UK Limited, which is regulated by the FCA in the UK and CySEC in Cyprus, not by ASIC. This means you do not receive the protections of an Australian Financial Services Licence, such as access to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority or the retail client compensation scheme of last resort. Your funds are held in segregated accounts under FCA and CySEC rules, but if the broker fails, recovery depends on the UK or Cypriot legal process. Before funding, confirm on the FxPro website which entity your account is opened under, because the entity determines the regulatory framework and the level of client protection you receive.

The entity that serves Australia, FxPro UK Limited, is not required to comply with ASIC's product intervention orders, such as the leverage restrictions that apply to retail clients in Australia. You can trade gold with leverage up to 1:200, which increases both profit potential and the risk of losing your entire deposit quickly. The FCA and CySEC do not provide a statutory investor compensation fund that covers Australian residents, so in the event of insolvency, you may have no automatic compensation. This is a material difference from trading with an ASIC-regulated broker.

Because the serving entity is offshore, you also face currency conversion risk when funding in AUD. Your deposits via bank transfer or card are converted to USD at the prevailing exchange rate, and withdrawals are converted back, so exchange rate movements can affect your net returns. Additionally, Australian consumer protection laws do not apply to this offshore entity, meaning you cannot rely on the ASIC enforcement regime if a dispute arises. You should read the client agreement carefully to understand which country's laws govern the relationship and where any legal action would need to be brought.

How the account type changes what a gold trade costs

FxPro offers three main account types for gold trading: Standard, Raw Spread, and Zero, and each changes the cost structure. The Standard account has no commission, but the spread on XAU/USD is wider. The Raw Spread account charges a commission per side per lot, but the spread is much lower. The Zero account also charges a commission, but the spread is the same as the Raw Spread account. The exact spreads and commissions are not published as fixed numbers; they depend on market conditions and the account type. The choice depends on your trading style: high-frequency scalpers may prefer the Raw Spread or Zero account for tighter spreads, while longer-term traders can accept the wider spread to avoid commissions.

The commission on the Raw Spread account is charged per side, meaning a round turn on one standard lot of gold costs twice the per-side commission. The exact commission amount depends on the account type and is not a fixed number, but it is charged per side. The Standard account has no commission, but the spread on gold may be wider. For smaller trade sizes, the Standard account can be cheaper, while for larger sizes, the commission-based accounts may be more cost-effective, but this depends on the actual spreads and commissions, which vary.

The account type also determines the minimum deposit and the available leverage, but the minimum deposit is not stated as a number. All account types offer maximum leverage of 1:200 for retail clients, and the margin requirement is the same regardless of account type. For example, at 1:200 leverage, a 0.10-lot gold position needs about $85.50 margin on any account. However, the account type affects the cost of holding positions overnight through swap rates. Swap rates are charged or credited based on the instrument and the direction of the trade, and they are the same across account types, but the commission or spread difference can make one account more suitable for day trading versus swing trading.

What the trading platforms differ in for gold traders

MT4, MT5, cTrader, and the FxPro app each offer different capabilities for trading gold. MT4 is the most widely used platform and supports one-click trading, custom indicators, and Expert Advisors, but it lacks depth of market and has limited order types. MT5 adds more timeframes, a built-in economic calendar, and the ability to hedge, but it does not support hedging in the same way as MT4, and it has more order types like buy stop limit. cTrader is known for its advanced charting, level II pricing, and fast execution, making it popular among scalpers. The FxPro app is a mobile-only platform that offers a simplified interface for trading on the go, but it lacks the advanced features of the desktop platforms.

For gold traders, the choice of platform affects execution speed and available order types. MT4 and MT5 execute trades as market orders or pending orders, but they do not show the full depth of market. cTrader provides market depth, allowing you to see the liquidity available at different price levels for XAU/USD. This can be crucial for large orders, as you can avoid slippage by using limit orders. The FxPro app offers instant execution and basic charting, but it is not suitable for algorithmic trading. If you rely on automated strategies, MT4 or MT5 with Expert Advisors is the better choice, while cTrader supports cBots for automation.

The platforms also differ in their charting tools and indicators. MT4 has 30 built-in indicators and 24 analytical objects, while MT5 has 38 indicators and 44 objects. cTrader has over 70 indicators and advanced drawing tools, as well as detachable charts. The FxPro app has a limited set of indicators but offers push notifications for price alerts. For gold traders who use technical analysis, cTrader may be preferable for its superior charting, but if you are used to the MT4 ecosystem, you can still trade gold effectively with custom indicators. The choice of platform is free with FxPro, and you can use the same login credentials across all platforms, so you can test them with a demo account before committing.

How to verify FxPro's licence on the regulator's own register, step by step

To verify FxPro's FCA licence, go to the FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk and search for "FxPro". The FCA-regulated entity is FxPro UK Limited, and its reference number is 509956. Click on the firm name to see its permissions, contact details, and any disciplinary history. Check that the firm is authorised to hold client money and deal in investments as principal. The register will also show any restrictions or warnings, so review the "Requirements" section. This step confirms that the entity is genuinely regulated by the FCA, but remember that this entity may not serve Australian residents.

For the CySEC-regulated entity, visit the CySEC website at cysec.gov.cy and use the "Regulated Entities" search. The entity is FxPro Financial Services Ltd, licence number 078/07. Enter the licence number or name to view the firm's details, including its CIF licence status, the services it can provide, and any sanctions. CySEC also publishes a list of warned firms, so cross-check that FxPro is not on that list. The register will show the firm's address and contact details, which you can compare with the information on the FxPro website to ensure you are dealing with the correct entity.

To verify the FSCA licence, go to the FSCA website at fsca.co.za and search the "Financial Services Providers" register. The entity serving Australian residents is FxPro Global Markets Ltd, FSP number 45052. Enter the FSP number or name to see the licence category, approval date, and any conditions. The FSCA register also lists representatives and key individuals, so you can confirm the people behind the firm. If the licence does not appear or the details do not match, contact the FSCA directly. Always verify on the regulator's own website, not a third-party site, because scammers can clone legitimate brokers. After verifying, save a screenshot of the register entry for your records.

What the leverage and margin actually mean for a gold position

At 1:200 leverage, a 0.10-lot gold position requires about $85.50 in margin, which is 0.5% of the notional value. The notional value of 0.10 lots of gold at $4,275 per ounce is $42,750, so the margin is calculated as $42,750 divided by 200. This means you can control a large position with a small deposit, but a 0.5% adverse move in the gold price will wipe out your margin. For a 0.10-lot trade, each $0.01 move in the price equals $0.10, so a $0.855 move against you (about 0.2% of $4,275) will trigger a margin call. Leverage amplifies both profits and losses, and you should never risk more than you can afford to lose.

The margin requirement is fixed by the broker and depends on the leverage chosen, not the account type. FxPro offers leverage up to 1:200 for retail clients, but you can select lower leverage to reduce risk. For example, at lower leverage, the margin for a 0.10-lot gold position would be higher, and the exact amount depends on the ratio you choose. Lower leverage means more margin is required, but it also means a larger price movement is needed to trigger a margin call. The margin is held in your account as a deposit and is released when you close the position. If your account equity falls below the required margin, the broker may automatically close your positions to prevent further losses.

Margin and leverage are not costs but risk controls. The spread or commission is the cost of the trade, while margin is the collateral you must put up. For a 0.10-lot gold trade, the spread depends on the account type and market conditions, and the commission, if any, is a separate charge, but the margin is the same $85.50 at 1:200 leverage. If you hold the position overnight, you will also incur a swap, which can be positive or negative depending on the interest rate differential between USD and gold. Therefore, the total cost of a gold trade includes the spread or commission plus any swap, while the margin is only a temporary deposit.

FxPro is licensed by the FCA (UK) and CySEC. It does not hold an ASIC licence, so Australian residents deal with an offshore entity — check this before funding. Trading CFDs on gold carries a high risk of loss.