XAU - International Gold / Spot Gold - London Gold
London Gold is an international spot gold trading method that originated in the London market. It is priced and settled in USD, with the trading unit being troy ounces (approximately 31.1035 grams). Its key features include 24-hour round-the-clock trading during the trading day (covering the Asia, Europe, and US trading sessions), high leverage (typically up to 50-100 times), a two-way trading mechanism (supporting both long and short positions), and cash settlement rather than physical delivery. The London Gold market is regulated by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA). The price is influenced by global economic factors, political events, and USD trends, and it serves as one of the global benchmarks for gold pricing. Investors can participate through platforms like AstralX without needing to hold physical gold, but they should be aware of the risks associated with high leverage and use stop-loss strategies to control losses.
XAG - London Silver - International Silver / Spot Silver
London Silver is a spot silver trading product similar to London Gold. It is also priced and settled in USD, with the trading unit being ounces. Its trading mechanism is highly similar to that of London Gold, including 24-hour trading, leverage operations, and two-way trading, but its volatility is typically higher than gold. The London Silver market is also regulated by LBMA, and its price is influenced by industrial demand, inflation expectations, and the overall sentiment in the precious metals market. Investors can participate in trading through compliant platforms such as the Hong Kong Jewelry and Precious Metals Trade Association, but they should be aware that the liquidity in the silver market is relatively lower, and the risks of leveraged trading are more pronounced.
COPPER - London Copper - LME Copper
London Copper refers to copper contracts traded on the London Metal Exchange (LME), which is the global pricing benchmark for non-ferrous metals. The underlying asset is Grade A cathode copper or copper rods, which meet LBMA certification standards, quoted in USD/ton, with each contract representing 25 tons. LME copper uses a unique combination of open outcry and electronic trading, offering contracts from spot to 15 months forward, with options for physical delivery or cash settlement. Prices are influenced by supply and demand factors (such as mining output, industrial demand), macroeconomic trends, and geopolitical factors. Participants include mining companies, traders, and financial institutions, who must monitor inventory data and macroeconomic trends, as these can significantly impact copper prices.
Forex Trading
Forex trading is the largest financial market in the world, with daily trading volumes exceeding $6 trillion, involving the buying and selling of currency pairs from different countries. Trades are conducted through banks, brokers, or electronic networks (ECNs), with major currency pairs such as EUR/USD and USD/JPY being common. The core costs and tools of forex trading include spreads and leverage. The market operates 24 hours a day (with the Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York sessions overlapping), and prices are driven by interest rate policies, economic data, geopolitical events, and other factors. Trading strategies include technical analysis (such as moving averages, RSI indicators) and fundamental analysis, with risk managed through position sizing and stop-loss measures. Retail investors can participate through platforms like AstralX, but they must choose regulated and compliant brokers to ensure the safety of their funds.