COMEX · Precious metals
Spot gold asks for the whole bar. Futures ask for margin — same gold price.
Use margin to participate in gold price moves. Nearly 23-hour, five-day access. Long or short. Zero ETF-style tracking error on the futures price itself.
Exchange-traded, centrally cleared, globally regulated. No management fee. No storage bill. This page never takes payment or opens an account — trading is only through a licensed futures broker on CME Group markets.
Still in bullion, ETFs, or gold CFDs?
Put capital on the gold price, not the vault. Compare the same four rails CME Group publishes: futures, gold ETFs, gold CFDs, and physical spot.
| Gold futures | Gold ETF | Gold CFD | Spot gold | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital efficiency | Leverage opportunity via margin | Upfront capital; modest leverage | High leverage, terms set by the broker | 100% of notional upfront |
| Costs | Transparent pricing. No management fee, no storage fee | Ongoing management fees erode long-term value | Spreads and possible overnight financing | Dealer premium plus security and storage |
| Hours | Nearly 24/7. React to global events | Only the cash-equity session | Can be 24/7, depends on the broker | Dealer business hours |
| Risk / safety | Exchange-traded. Central clearing. Tight regulation | Custodian / trust risk | Broker / dealer credit risk | Depends on physical custody |
Gold futures are not subject to U.S. equity Pattern Day Trader (PDT) restrictions.
Find the gold contract that fits the desk
The world’s most active gold derivatives markets, used by individuals and institutions, traded 23 hours a day. Six CME Group listings. Same gold price. Different size.
Notional and margin estimates as of 23 April 2025, 5:00 p.m. CT, as published by CME Group. Estimates only — not a live quote.
Test-drive gold futures with real market data
CME Group’s trading simulator lets you rehearse gold futures in a zero-risk scene before a live futures account exists.
Start the simulatorStart trading gold futures and options
Before you trade, open a futures account with a partner FCM. CME Group does not hold retail accounts on this page.
Find a futures brokerPartner-broker lists on cmegroup.com are informational only. They are not an endorsement, and they do not verify that a firm may solicit or hold customer accounts in your jurisdiction.
Sharpen the decision with the same desks the pit uses
Information is power. Professional-grade views on who holds gold, whether interest is building, and which options dates overlap the calendar.
How are the largest gold holders adjusting? Track the twice-monthly COT cut.
Are traders building and holding, or cutting risk on the contract that matters to you?
Browse expiries — including weekday daily options on OG and OMG — against key report dates.
Sharp desks stay with a moving market. Read the latest metals analysis and gold fundamentals.