The gold spot price is the set price of gold for a particular time and date and is used for the trading of gold. The price is referred to when buying or selling gold or any gold related items such as ETFs in order to get a standard rate with which the metal can be traded. The process is usually done with different banks and other corporations involved in the trading of gold participating in the setting and setting a price at two specific periods of the day – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The set price is used for the trading of gold at least about two days before the actual buying or selling of the gold commodity. The gold spot price helps traders around the world agree on what should be the trading price of gold for a particular period. It helps provide a veritable standard on how the commodity should be valued for a given period which anyone, anywhere in the world can use for their trading purposes.
There are a variety of factors which affect the price of gold for the day. Of course there is the supply and demand factor but there are also other factors. The spot price is usually used for transactions that call for immediate physical delivery of gold and not for other types of contracts such as those that are involved in gold futures contracts. They use a different method of coming into the actual value of gold for a specific future date and which adds more factors into play such as gains and other interests that may affect the future interests of the buyer or seller. There is also the expectations of the future performance of gold in the future which will determine the value for gold at that particular date.
The spot price is affected by the supply and demand for the metal such as the worldwide hoarding of the gold due to their ever-increasing value and also as a security for any future economic condition which may diminish the value of their currency. Gold has always had a value with which it can purchase large commodities unlike the paper currencies which suffer whenever there are changes in economic conditions or wars and other factors.
The spot price of gold is expressed in either the United States dollar, the Euro or the British pound, in which it is usually settled. The fixing of the spot price for gold is usually done in London with various entities participating. They meet for an agreement on what the price of gold should be for that particular day and time depending on the performance of gold in the market at that time. Today, however, the process is usually done through the phone and does not need the physical meetings by these entities.
The spot price of gold has risen greatly for the past few months only which can be a good signal for buyers or sellers to do their trade. Gold has not had this particular performance since the 90’s and will definitely be a good indicator for people to start trading this metal. You can view the historical statistics for gold and other precious metal commodities in the United States at this interesting precious metal commodity spreadsheet.
You can watch a video that explains what the spot price of gold means below: