Live gold price (XAU/USD)

What the spot number is and how it is set

The spot gold price is the price for immediate delivery of one troy ounce of gold, quoted in US dollars, and it is set by trading across the global over-the-counter market rather than on a single exchange. Banks, refiners and funds quote two-way prices through the London and New York sessions, and those quotes are aggregated into the reference number you see here, currently around 4275.0. No single venue owns the price, which is why different feeds can differ slightly.

Because gold is quoted in dollars, the number you see is the dollar price only. A Kenyan trader watching the shilling value of gold is effectively watching two markets at once: XAU/USD and the USD/KES rate. A flat gold price in dollars can still move in shillings if the exchange rate moves, and that matters when you are judging a position in KSh terms.

Why your broker's price differs: the spread

Your broker's gold price differs from the raw spot quote because of the spread, which is the gap between the bid and the ask. You buy at the ask and sell at the bid, so the spread is a cost you pay on entry and again on exit in effect. The size of that gap is not fixed: it depends on the broker's liquidity arrangements, the time of day, and how volatile the market is at the moment you trade.

The spread is not the only cost. Depending on the account type, a commission may apply, and a swap is charged if you hold a gold position overnight. Each of these depends on the broker's terms and the direction of the position, so check them on the platform before you size a trade rather than assuming the chart price is what you will get.

How to read the change and the refresh

The change figure shows how far the current price has moved from a reference point, usually the prior session's close, and it is the fastest way to tell whether gold is trending or ranging on the day. A large change with a steady refresh means the market is active; a small change with a frozen refresh usually means you are looking at a quiet period or a stale feed.

Refresh behaviour matters more than most traders admit. During the weekly open and around major US data releases, quotes can jump rather than glide, and a price that has not updated for several seconds is a warning that liquidity is thin. If you are about to trade, compare the live quote with your platform's quote before you act, because the calculators here use the reference price, not your broker's executable price.

How this price feeds the calculators

The live price is the input that makes the other calculators meaningful. Position size and profit and loss both need a current price to convert points into money, and margin needs it to value the notional position before applying the leverage cap. When the price refreshes, the outputs refresh with it, so the numbers you see are consistent with the market at that moment.

The reference price of about 4275.0 is a working anchor, not a guarantee of your fill. Your actual entry will be the broker's ask or bid at the moment of execution, which is why the spread section matters: the calculators show the mechanics, and the platform shows the executable number. Use both together rather than treating either as the whole picture.

Where the XAU/USD figure on this page comes from and what its latency means

The figure on this page is a reference price for XAU/USD, not a live execution quote. It is assembled from pricing sources that reflect interbank and electronic gold trading, then published to this page. Because it travels from source to screen, it carries latency: a short delay between the market and the number you see. That delay is why the page is a benchmark for context and calculations, not a guarantee of the price your broker will show or fill at.

Latency matters most when gold is moving quickly. A reference price that is even a few seconds behind can differ from the broker's tradeable quote, and the gap widens during news releases or thin liquidity. For a 0.10-lot position (10 oz), a $1.00 move in gold is $10, so stale numbers can mislead your sense of risk. Treat the page as a guide to where the market is trading, and confirm the actual fill price on your broker's platform before you act.

The page is built for readers in Kenya who want a clear, local reference before funding with M-Pesa or opening a position. It is not a substitute for the broker's own feed. FxPro, the broker covered here, is licensed by the FCA (UK), CySEC and FSCA — not by the CMA of Kenya — so your trade is governed by the entity serving this country. Use the page to understand the market, but always check the live quote on MT4, MT5, cTrader or the FxPro app.

Why a broker's XAU/USD quote differs from a reference price

A broker's quote differs from a reference price because the broker is quoting a tradeable market, not publishing a benchmark. The broker's price includes its own spread, its liquidity providers' pricing, and the cost of hedging or holding risk. A reference price is usually a mid-market composite. The two serve different purposes: one tells you where gold is broadly trading, the other tells you what you can actually buy or sell at right now.

The difference is not an error. It reflects the broker's business model and the conditions in the underlying market. Gold is quoted in USD, so Kenyan traders also see the effect of the KSh/USD rate when they think in shillings, even though the instrument itself is XAU/USD. The broker's quote will move with liquidity, volatility and the broker's own risk management. When you compare the page to your platform, expect a gap, and understand that the gap is the cost of doing business.

FxPro offers MT4, MT5, cTrader and the FxPro app, and each platform displays the broker's tradeable quote. That quote is the one your order fills against. The reference price on this page is for orientation and for the calculators. If you are sizing a position, remember that 1 standard lot is 100 oz and one pip is 0.01, so small quote differences can translate into real money. Always use the broker's live quote for execution decisions.

Bid, ask and the gap between them on a gold quote

The bid is the price at which you can sell, and the ask is the price at which you can buy. The gap between them is the spread, and it is the immediate cost of entering a trade. On a gold quote, you will typically see two numbers: a lower bid and a higher ask. If you buy, you pay the ask; if you sell, you receive the bid. The mid-price is halfway between them and is often what a reference page shows.

The size of the gap depends on the broker, the time of day and market conditions. It is not a fixed number you can assume. Around major news or when liquidity is thin, the gap can widen. For a 0.10-lot position, the spread cost is the gap multiplied by 10 oz. Because one pip is 0.01, a spread of a few cents is a few pips. You should check the live spread on your platform before trading, especially if you plan to scalp or trade short-term.

Understanding bid and ask is essential for risk management. The spread is a cost you pay on entry, and it affects your break-even point. FxPro's platforms show both prices clearly. The reference price on this page is a guide, but your fills happen at the bid or ask. Kenyan traders funding via M-Pesa should factor the spread into their position sizing. The regulator caveat stands: FxPro is licensed by the FCA (UK), CySEC and FSCA — not by the CMA of Kenya.

What a stale quote looks like and how to respond

A stale quote is a price that no longer reflects the current market. It looks frozen while the market moves, or it shows a bid-ask gap that is unusually wide or inconsistent with other sources. On a platform, a stale quote might not update for several seconds, or it might show a price that is far from the reference page. Stale quotes are more common during low-liquidity periods, around holidays, or when there is a data feed problem.

If you suspect a stale quote, do not trade on it. Refresh the platform, check another source, or wait for the feed to catch up. Placing an order on a stale quote can lead to a fill at a price you did not expect, or a rejection. For gold, where a $1 move on a 0.10-lot position is $10, acting on a stale number can be costly. The reference page is not immune to latency either, so cross-check before you commit.

Brokers like FxPro have safeguards, but you are responsible for confirming the live quote. If the platform shows a price that seems disconnected from the market, contact support or switch to another platform (MT4, MT5, cTrader or the FxPro app) to compare. In Kenya, where funding is often via M-Pesa, a stale quote can also affect your margin calculations. Always ensure you are trading on current data, and remember the entity serving Kenya is not regulated by the CMA.

How often this page refreshes and how to spot a stale figure

This page refreshes at a set interval to bring you a recent reference price, but it is not a tick-by-tick feed. The refresh rate depends on the data source and the page's design. You can usually see a timestamp or a change indicator that tells you when the figure was last updated. If the timestamp is old or the price has not moved while the market is active, treat the figure as potentially stale.

A stale figure on this page looks like a price that lags behind the broker's quote or other public sources. It might also show a change value that does not match the current market direction. Because the page is a reference, some lag is normal, but excessive lag is a signal to rely on your platform. For calculations, use the most recent figure, but for execution, use the broker's live quote. The difference matters when you are sizing a trade in lots and pips.

Kenyan traders should be particularly careful around times when the global market is active but local connectivity might be strained. If the page seems stuck, refresh your browser or check the broker's platform directly. FxPro's platforms provide real-time quotes. The page is a tool for context, not a substitute for execution data. And always keep in mind that FxPro is licensed by the FCA (UK), CySEC and FSCA — not by the CMA of Kenya.

Spot reference versus the broker's tradeable quote: what you actually fill against

A spot reference is a benchmark price, while the broker's tradeable quote is the price at which your order can be executed. The reference on this page is a composite or indicative price, often a mid-market rate. The broker's quote includes the spread and is specific to the broker's liquidity. When you place an order, it fills against the broker's quote, not the reference. That is why the price you see on the page may differ from your fill price.

The distinction is important for expectations. If you use the reference price to calculate potential profit, you may be ignoring the spread and slippage. For gold, with 1 lot = 100 oz and one pip = 0.01, a small difference between reference and tradeable quote can affect your P&L. Always use the broker's live bid/ask for order decisions. The reference is useful for understanding the market and for the calculators, but it is not an execution price.

FxPro's platforms (MT4, MT5, cTrader and the FxPro app) show the tradeable quote. Kenyan traders funding with M-Pesa should familiarise themselves with the platform's quote behaviour. The regulator caveat is clear: FxPro is licensed by the FCA (UK), CySEC and FSCA — not by the CMA of Kenya. So your trade is with the offshore entity, and you should understand the terms. Use the reference page as a guide, but trust the platform for fills.

Weekend and holiday pricing for XAU/USD

Gold trading is typically closed or limited on weekends and some public holidays, so the price you see may not reflect a live market. The spot gold market operates around the clock during the trading week but shuts down from Friday evening to Sunday evening (depending on your time zone). On this page, the figure may remain static or update infrequently during these periods. A static price over the weekend is not a stale quote in the usual sense; it is simply a closed market.

Holidays can also affect pricing. When major markets are closed, liquidity thins and the spread may widen when trading resumes. The reference page might show a price from the last active session. If you are planning to trade around a holiday, check the broker's market hours. FxPro's platforms will indicate when the instrument is tradeable. Do not assume the page's price is current if the market is closed.

For Kenyan traders, weekend pricing is less relevant for immediate execution but important for planning. Funding via M-Pesa may also have different processing times on weekends. Always confirm market hours on your platform. The reference price is for information, and during closures it may not move. Remember that the entity serving Kenya is not regulated by the CMA; FxPro is licensed by the FCA (UK), CySEC and FSCA.

Why two sources disagree by a few cents and which quote your order fills against

Two sources can disagree by a few cents because they use different data, different timestamps or different definitions of the price. One might show a mid-market rate, another a last-traded price, and another a broker's bid or ask. Even small timing differences can create a few cents' gap in a fast-moving market. This is normal and not a sign of error. The disagreement reflects the fragmented nature of gold pricing across venues.

Your order fills against your broker's tradeable quote, not against a reference page or another source. So when you see a few cents' difference between this page and your platform, the platform is the one that matters for execution. The reference page is a guide. For a 0.10-lot position, a few cents is a small amount, but for larger sizes it can add up. Always check the broker's bid/ask before you click buy or sell.

FxPro provides its tradeable quote on MT4, MT5, cTrader and the FxPro app. That is the price you will get, subject to slippage. Kenyan traders should use the reference page for context and the platform for execution. The regulatory position is that FxPro is licensed by the FCA (UK), CySEC and FSCA — not by the CMA of Kenya. Understanding which quote you fill against is fundamental to managing risk.