Gold Pro Track: read gold like an institution
A free 10-lesson course on the data professional gold traders watch: futures and the basis, the curve, COT positioning, implied volatility, options and gamma, ETF and central-bank flows, volume profile and a weekly routine. Live examples, quizzes and a certificate.
0 of 10 lessons passed · your certificate
- 01How Institutions See the Gold MarketHow London OTC spot, COMEX futures, ETFs and central banks connect, and why your XAUUSD quote sits where it does.
- 02Gold Futures, the Basis and the RollFair value of a gold future, the futures-spot basis, contract rolls and what they mean for spot traders.
- 03The Gold Futures Curve: Carry and StressReading contango, backwardation and implied carry against interest rates, live on the futures curve.
- 04COT Positioning: Who Holds Gold FuturesManaged money vs swap dealers, five-year percentiles and how pros use crowding as risk context.
- 05Implied Volatility: the Market's Expected RangeTurning GVZ into daily and weekly ranges, implied vs realised volatility and sizing by volatility.
- 06Gold Options, Gamma and Big StrikesCalls, puts, open interest, delta and gamma, and how dealer hedging can pin or accelerate gold.
- 07Gold ETF Flows: Western Investment DemandHow physically backed ETF creations work and how to read tonnage changes against price.
- 08Central Bank Gold BuyingWhy central banks buy gold, how and when the data arrives, and how to use it as backdrop.
- 09Volume Profile and Order FlowPoint of control, value areas, acceptance and rejection, and what order flow tools add.
- 10The Institutional Weekly RoutineA practical weekly checklist that turns flows, volatility, positioning and value into sizing decisions.
What you will learn
Retail charts show price. Institutions watch what drives it: who holds futures, what options are pricing, where metal is flowing and where volume traded. This track explains each of those windows in plain English and puts the live tool next to the explanation, so every lesson ends with today's real numbers rather than a textbook example.
- How the London OTC market, COMEX futures, ETFs and central banks fit together, and why spot and futures prices differ.
- How to read the futures curve, carry and the basis, and when the curve signals physical stress.
- How to use COT percentiles and ETF and central-bank flows as positioning and trend context.
- How implied volatility, options and dealer gamma shape the size of moves.
- How volume profile and order flow map value, and a weekly routine that turns it all into sizing decisions.
How it works
Ten lessons of about eight minutes each, in order. Each ends with a five-question quiz; pass 4 of 5 to complete it. Pass all ten to unlock the free Gold Pro Track certificate. Before starting, you should be comfortable with the beginner course and the risk management course.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Gold Pro Track for?
Traders who know the basics (lots, stops, sessions, support and resistance) and want to understand the data institutions use: futures, positioning, volatility, flows and volume. If you are new, start with the beginner course.
Is the Pro Track free?
Yes. All ten lessons, the quizzes, the tools and the certificate are free with no sign-up. Progress is saved in your browser only.
Do I get a certificate?
Pass all ten lesson quizzes (4 of 5 each) and the Gold Pro Track certificate unlocks, ready to download. It is a self-study certificate, not a regulated qualification and not evidence of trading results.
Does the course give trading signals?
No. It teaches how to read institutional data as context for risk and sizing. Nothing in it tells you to buy or sell.
Why does each lesson show live numbers?
Because the lessons are built on the site’s own data tools. The numbers update automatically, so the examples always describe the current market.
Education only, not financial advice. Institutional data is context, not a signal. See our risk disclaimer.