Gold Price Explained: What Moves Gold and How to Track It
Gold is the world's oldest store of value. Learn what drives the gold price, how it is quoted globally, and how to convert it to your local currency.
How Gold Is Priced Globally
The international gold price is quoted in US dollars per troy ounce (31.1 grams). This benchmark is set by the LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) twice daily in a process called the London Gold Fix. When you see 'gold price today', this is the number being referenced — the spot price per troy ounce in USD.
Converting to Local Currency and Weight Units
To find the gold price in your local currency, multiply the USD spot price by the exchange rate. Then convert the weight unit: 1 troy ounce = 31.1 grams. In the Middle East and South Asia, gold is commonly priced per gram or per tola (one tola = 11.66 grams). Jewelry purity also affects value: 24K is pure gold, 22K is 91.7% gold, 21K is 87.5%, and 18K is 75%.
What Drives the Gold Price
Gold rises when: the US dollar weakens (since gold is dollar-priced, a weaker dollar makes it cheaper for other buyers), real interest rates fall (gold pays no interest, so it becomes more attractive when bonds pay little), geopolitical uncertainty increases (gold is a safe-haven asset), or central banks buy gold for reserves. Gold falls when the opposite conditions occur — particularly when real yields rise.
Gold as a Hedge Against Inflation
Gold has preserved purchasing power over centuries. Over the very long term, gold tends to keep pace with inflation — $1 in 1900 could buy roughly what 1/20th of an ounce of gold buys today. However, gold is volatile in the short and medium term and can lose 30–40% of its value in bear markets. It is best viewed as a long-term inflation hedge and portfolio diversifier, not a short-term trade.
Tracking Gold in Your Currency
This site shows the live gold price in your local currency, updated in real time. Use the metals page to view prices per gram, ounce, and tola. The historical chart lets you see gold's performance over 7 days to 10 years in any currency. Bookmark the gold page to quickly check your local price before buying jewelry or gold bars.
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