Gold (XAU/USD) swing setups: how the levels are planned
A gold swing setup is a written plan on XAU/USD spot: an entry level, a stop beyond the structure that would prove it wrong, and a target sized to gold’s normal weekly range. Gold sits on the Desk’s Forex and Metals tab with the same three gates as every other market. Most weeks it is a watch rather than a trade, and as of 8 Oct 2026 there is no closed gold trade on the record yet, so this page shows the method and the tools, not a gold result.
Spot, because that is what the levels are drawn on
Gold trades as spot (XAU/USD), as futures, and as CFDs that follow one or the other. They do not print the same number. The Desk's gold levels are drawn on spot, so a broker quoting spot will line up with them, while a futures chart will sit away from it because of carry. Check which one your platform shows before you compare a level to a price.
The trend gate comes first
The first gate is the trend: the 50 EMA against the 200 EMA on the daily chart, with the 8 and 21 EMAs showing whether the pullback has finished. When the 50 sits below the 200, as it did on gold in early October 2026, a long setup does not pass however cheap the price looks. The panel above says exactly that, and what would change it: a daily 50 crossing back over the 200.
Gold needs a wider stop and a smaller size
Gold moves more than a major currency pair. On 8 Oct 2026 the Volatility panel showed a 14-day ATR of 934 pips (about $93) on gold against 65 pips on EUR/USD. A stop that would be sensible on a currency pair sits inside gold's ordinary daily noise. The answer is never a tight stop to keep the position large; it is a stop beyond the structure and a smaller position, so a full stop still costs exactly 1R. The ATR stop guide works through the arithmetic.
News moves gold, so the calendar is part of the plan
US inflation, jobs and Federal Reserve decisions move gold more than almost anything on its own chart. A gold setup is checked against the week's calendar on Sunday, and a level that sits right on a release is either skipped or sized down. The free Sunday routine covers the calendar step, and the weekly forex ideas page covers the rest of the Forex and Metals tab.
When a gold setup does trigger and close, it goes into the record with its levels and its R, the same as every forex pair, winner or loser.
This week’s setups are already mapped
Every Sunday before the open: analysed swing setups across stocks, forex, gold and crypto with the exact entry, stop and target, an alert when one triggers, the live dashboard and the paid Substack letters.
Get this week’s setups →111 trades · 54 losers shown · +54.5R see the full record →
FAQ
Does the Trade Desk cover gold?
Yes. Gold, silver and oil sit on the Forex and Metals tab with the currency pairs, planned with the same trend, momentum and risk gates. Most weeks gold is a watch rather than a setup.
Are the gold levels spot or futures?
Spot, XAU/USD. A futures chart will show a different number because of carry, so check what your broker quotes before comparing.
How wide should a gold swing stop be?
Wide enough to sit beyond the structure and outside normal daily noise, which on gold is often well over $50. Size the position down so the full stop still costs 1R, rather than tightening the stop.
Has a gold trade closed on the record?
Not as of 8 Oct 2026. When one does, it is added with its levels and R like every other trade, winner or loser.