What is XAUUSD?

XAUUSD is the price of one troy ounce of gold quoted in US dollars. XAU is the market symbol for gold and USD is the US dollar, so XAUUSD simply answers one question: how many dollars does an ounce of gold cost right now.

Breaking down the symbol

Currency and metal codes follow an international standard. XAU is the code for one troy ounce of gold. USD is the United States dollar. Put together, XAUUSD is a pair, exactly like EURUSD, except the first side is gold instead of a currency.

When XAUUSD rises, gold is gaining value against the dollar. When it falls, the dollar is gaining on gold. A quote of 2400 means one ounce of gold costs 2,400 US dollars.

Why gold trades against the dollar

Gold is priced globally in dollars because the dollar is the world reserve currency and most commodities settle in it. This links gold and the dollar tightly: a stronger dollar usually pressures gold, and a weaker dollar usually lifts it.

What moves the XAUUSD price

Gold reacts to a handful of major forces:

• Interest rates. Higher rates make cash and bonds more attractive than gold, which pays no yield, so gold often falls when rates rise.
• Inflation. Gold is seen as a store of value, so rising inflation expectations can support it.
• The US dollar. Dollar strength and gold usually move in opposite directions.
• Risk sentiment. In times of fear, money moves into gold as a safe haven.

How to follow XAUUSD live

The simplest way to track it is a live chart. Our live XAUUSD chart shows the real-time price with smart-money zones and market structure already drawn on the candles, so you can see not just the number but where price is likely to react. If you are new to reading it, start with how to read a gold chart.

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