Donaldson R F Donaldson R F

Home / Gold blog / Trader's Desk

Gold · articles

Trader's Desk

My own trading routine, broker and prop firm notes, and the mistakes I try not to repeat.

Risk. Trading gold carries a high level of risk and you can lose more than you expected. These articles are information, not financial advice. Read the Risk Disclosure.
All articles (67) Gold History & Curiosities Gold Market Analysis Gold Market Mechanics Trader's Desk Gold Live DRF Signal
The FTMO logo displayed clearly over my dark XAU/USD candlestick chart background.

Trader's Desk

FTMO Review: Why I Trade Gold With This Prop Firm

I dive deep into the FTMO ecosystem, from the OANDA acquisition to the new FTMO Futures, explaining why their Swing Challenge is my top choice for trading.

11 September 2026
My visual comparison showing the official IC Trading logo next to the newly rebranded IC broker logo.

Trader's Desk

IC Trading Review: An Honest Look at the Offshore Broker

I dive deep into IC Trading, exploring its Mauritius regulation, MT5 spreads, and how it differs from the main IC broker. Is this offshore entity right for you?

11 September 2026
My comparison graphic showing the transition from the old IC Markets logo to the new IC branding

Trader's Desk

IC Markets Review 2026: An Independent Trader’s Verdict

After nearly a decade of trading XAU/USD, here is my honest IC review. I cover raw spreads, MT5 execution, 1:5000 leverage, and regulation.

8 September 2026
My view of a lone trader silhouetted against a blue horizon, reflecting on my transition to FTMO futures.

Trader's Desk

FTMO 2-Step vs Futures: A Gold Trader’s Guide (Beta)

Evaluating the new FTMO Futures Beta. I compare the $50K Futures to the $25K MT5 challenge, exploring trailing drawdowns, consistency, and XAU/USD vs MGC.

2 September 2026
My illustration of the London and New York market overlap connecting global trading sessions for XAU USD.

Trader's Desk

Best Time to Trade Gold: Your XAU/USD Golden Window

Discover the best time to trade gold. I break down the London-New York overlap and why the Wall Street cash open is my ultimate XAU/USD trading window.

2 September 2026
A trader analysing charts on three monitors, illustrating the focused professional desktop environment I recommend for gold.

Trader's Desk

Why I Stopped Trading XAU/USD on My Mobile Phone

Trading gold on a mobile phone removes friction but increases behavioural risk. Here is why I moved my XAU/USD trading strictly to a desktop setup.

1 September 2026
A standard trading desk I often observe, showing three screens with an economic calendar and a XAU/USD chart.

Trader's Desk

Trading the London Open: My XAU/USD Asian Handover Strategy

I share my personal insights on trading the XAU/USD transition from the Asian session to the London open, breaking down liquidity sweeps and volume spikes.

27 August 2026

Gold newsletter

The gold side of the site: new Gold Daily Insights articles, the Market Quick Take, news about the DRF Signal and the Expert Advisors.

You get one e-mail to confirm. Nothing is sent before you confirm, and you can unsubscribe at any time. See the Privacy Policy.

Running into a technical issue or something that doesn't work right on this page? Please let us know straight away via our Contact page — that's how we find out what's broken and get it fixed.