Our Gold products provide global price discovery and opportunities for portfolio diversification by presenting an alternative to gold bullion, coins, and mining stock investments. Gold also offers ongoing trading opportunities, as gold prices respond quickly to political and economic events.
Latest Metals news
Features and benefits
Leading liquidity
The world’s leading benchmark futures contract for gold trades the equivalent of nearly 27 million ounces daily.
Greater capital efficiency
Control a larger notional value for less money and reduce margin requirements >80% when trading metal contracts in one exchange.
Physical settlement
Because contracts remain closely tied to the cash market, slippage costs are reduced.
Nearly 24-hour electronic access
Manage positions as global news and events that impact prices unfold.
Mitigate risk
Central clearing mitigates third-party credit risk in a CFTC-regulated market.
60/40 US tax treatment
Get certainty of blended 60% long-term, 40% short-term capital gains treatment.
Explore this product in depth
Track forward-looking risk expectations on Gold with the CME Group Volatility Index (CVOLTM), a robust measure of 30-day implied volatility derived from deeply liquid options on Gold futures.
Key reports and references
Gold futures vs. other trading methods
- Trades equivalent of 27 million ounces/day - 30x SPDR Gold ETF at 0.8 million ounces/day.
- With GC futures, pay no management fees vs. an ETF that charges a fee on your position every day it’s held.
- Nearly 24-hour access enables you to act, not wait, as major events (Brexit, U.S. elections) unfold.
- Redeeming ETF holdings for physical gold can be complex and restricted to certain investors.
- Gold ETF investments are treated as a collectible subject to large capital gains tax, vs blended 60 long-term/40 short-term capital gains treatment for GC futures.
- ETFs can charge 50%+ margin, plus any broker financing fees.
- Exchange-traded futures’ standardized terms make Buying and selling positions easier.
- All market participants see the same transparent prices, not just the other counterparty.
- Futures offer substantially mitigated counterparty credit risk, with payment backed by the exchange.
- You can easily offset your futures position in a centralized, electronic market—unlike non-transferrable positions of forwards.
- Futures are regulated by CFTC oversight; trade settlement of forwards is dependent on counterparty.
View the latest insights on trends in the Metals market.
Courses
Take self-guided courses on Gold futures and options products.
If you're new to futures, the courses below can help you quickly understand the Gold market and start trading.
Contact a Metals expert
Connect with a member of our expert Metals team for more information about our products.
Track forward-looking risk expectations on Gold with the CME Group Volatility Index (CVOLTM), a robust measure of 30-day implied volatility derived from deeply liquid options on Gold futures.
