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Re:

HFM Raises Its Maximum Gold Leverage

HFM’s gold leverage increase to 1:2000 was announced in October 2023. Here are the current margin, InfinityX, equity and session restrictions traders need to know.
From TheFinanceBase Team6 min to read
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HFM’s increase in gold leverage was announced on October 30, 2023—not as a new 2026 change. For XAUUSD and XAUEUR, HFM said it cut the margin requirement from 0.5% to 0.05% and raised the maximum leverage from 1:500 to 1:2000. The broker said the change applied to new and existing positions across account types.

That headline does not mean every trader can use 1:2000 on every gold trade at every moment. HFM’s current disclosures apply equity-based limits, temporary reductions around news and market sessions, and separate conditions for its InfinityX account.

What HFM changed

The 2023 change affected two gold CFDs:

  • XAUUSD: gold priced in U.S. dollars
  • XAUEUR: gold priced in euros
Condition Before the change After the change
Margin requirement 0.5% 0.05%
Maximum leverage 1:500 1:2000

At a basic mathematical level, a 0.05% margin requirement corresponds to 1:2000 leverage because the trader supplies 1/2,000 of the position’s notional value as margin. This is a margin calculation, not a statement about how much a trader should risk.

HFM also promoted gold CFD trading with leverage of up to 1:2000 and spreads from 0.0 in its contemporaneous public announcement. Actual spreads, margin and execution conditions can vary by account, instrument, market conditions and legal entity.

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What the current HFM gold pages show

HFM’s current metals table lists maximum gold leverage of 1:2000 on its standard account-condition tables. Its XAUUSD specification page lists these account types:

Account Published margin requirement Contract size Maximum contract size
Premium 0.05% 100 ounces per lot 60 lots
Zero 0.05% 100 ounces per lot 60 lots
Cent 0.05% 1 ounce per lot 200 lots
Pro 0.05% 100 ounces per lot 60 lots
InfinityX 0% 100 ounces per lot 60 lots

The minimum contract size shown for XAUUSD is 0.01 lot. For the standard 100-ounce contract, that minimum represents one ounce of gold. The Cent account uses a one-ounce contract per lot, so its position sizing is different even though the page also shows a 0.01-lot minimum.

How much margin does 1:2000 imply?

The calculation is:

Required margin = position notional value × margin rate

For an illustrative XAUUSD price of $2,300:

  1. One standard lot represents 100 ounces.
  2. One lot therefore has a notional value of $230,000.
  3. At a 0.05% margin requirement, the initial margin calculation is $230,000 × 0.0005 = $115.
  4. A 0.01-lot position represents one ounce, with a notional value of $2,300 and an illustrative margin calculation of $1.15.

This example excludes spread, swaps, commissions, currency conversion, stop-out rules and any temporary leverage reduction. A small margin requirement can also make an account vulnerable to a relatively small gold-price movement. If the position loses more than the account’s available funds, the broker’s margin-management rules can close it.

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InfinityX is not unlimited leverage on every gold position

HFM’s current metals table associates “unlimited” leverage with selected instruments on its InfinityX offering. The account’s April 2, 2026 announcement gives an important qualification: InfinityX provides no margin requirement for the first five lots of eligible forex, metals, indices and energies positions. Above the applicable threshold, leverage is adjusted according to account balance, with leverage available up to 1:2000.

So the safer description is:

  • InfinityX: no margin requirement for the first five lots where the instrument and account conditions qualify.
  • Above the threshold: balance-based leverage adjustments apply.
  • Upper limit for the adjusted position: up to 1:2000, subject to the broker’s other restrictions.

“Unlimited gold leverage” should not be read as unlimited buying power for every position or as an absence of liquidation risk.

Equity can reduce the available leverage

For the HFM St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity, the current CFD risk disclosure automatically adjusts maximum account leverage according to equity. For accounts other than Cent, Copy and PAMM, the published schedule is:

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Account equity Maximum leverage
$0–$4,999.99 1:2000
$5,000–$39,999.99 1:1000
$40,000–$99,999.99 1:500
$100,000 or more 1:200

Cent accounts have separate thresholds:

Cent account equity Maximum leverage
$0–$499.99 1:2000
$500–$999.99 1:1000
$1,000–$1,499.99 1:500
$1,500 or more 1:200

HFM defines equity as balance plus floating profit or loss, swaps and commission. The disclosure says the broker may apply these changes without prior notice. A profitable trade can therefore increase equity enough to move an account into a lower-leverage tier, while a losing trade can reduce equity.

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News and market-session limits

Even if an account qualifies for 1:2000, HFM’s risk disclosure says the normal limit can be reduced around significant news and relevant market opens or closes. The listed temporary limits are:

Normal maximum Reduced maximum
1:2000 1:500
1:1000 1:500
1:500 1:200
1:200 1:200

The news-related window is stated as beginning 15 minutes before a significant release and ending five minutes afterward. The disclosure also identifies tighter weekly-session restrictions:

  • First 10 minutes after Monday’s session open: maximum 1:100.
  • From 10 minutes after Monday’s open until one hour after the open: maximum 1:200.
  • From one hour before Friday’s close until 30 minutes before the close: maximum 1:200.
  • From 30 minutes before Friday’s close until the session closes: maximum 1:100.

If the account’s ordinary leverage is already lower, the lower figure applies. These reductions can affect existing positions as well as new trades by increasing the margin required to maintain a position.

Gold trading hours and the daily break

HFM currently lists XAUUSD and XAUEUR as opening at 01:05 server time on Monday and closing at 23:54:59 server time on Friday. The daily break is listed as 23:57:59 to 01:05:00.

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HFM’s server time is GMT+2 in winter and GMT+3 in summer. The broker warns that spreads may widen and liquidity may fall from 23:55 to 00:05 server time, and orders may not execute during that period. Traders holding gold through the break should not assume that a stop order will fill at the requested price, particularly in a fast or thin market.

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What traders should check before relying on 1:2000

  1. Confirm the legal entity. The published equity tiers cited above apply to HFM’s St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. Conditions may differ for another HFM entity or jurisdiction.
  2. Check the instrument specification in the platform. Confirm contract size, minimum volume, margin rate, trading hours and any symbol-specific restrictions.
  3. Check current equity. A balance above the 1:2000 tier can trigger a lower account-level maximum.
  4. Check the economic calendar and session clock. News and Monday or Friday session windows can reduce leverage sharply.
  5. Calculate the loss, not just the margin. A $1.15 illustrative margin figure for 0.01 lot does not limit the possible loss to $1.15.
  6. Leave a margin buffer. Spreads, swaps, commissions and temporary requirement changes can consume available margin.

HFM’s international XAUUSD materials also say they are not intended for distribution to individuals in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union or other prohibited jurisdictions. Availability depends on the trader’s location, onboarding entity and local rules.

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FAQ

When did HFM raise gold leverage to 1:2000?

HFM announced the change on October 30, 2023. The announcement described a reduction in margin from 0.5% to 0.05% and an increase in maximum leverage from 1:500 to 1:2000 for XAUUSD and XAUEUR.

Does HFM offer 1:2000 leverage on every gold trade?

No. HFM’s published risk disclosure includes lower limits based on account equity and temporary reductions around significant news, market openings, market closings and weekly sessions.

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Is HFM’s InfinityX gold leverage unlimited?

Only in a qualified and limited sense. InfinityX offers no margin requirement for the first five lots of eligible instruments under the announced conditions. Positions above the threshold are subject to balance-based leverage adjustments, up to 1:2000.

How much margin is needed for one lot of XAUUSD at 1:2000?

Using HFM’s 100-ounce contract and an illustrative gold price of $2,300, one lot has a $230,000 notional value. At 0.05% margin, the calculation is $115. The actual requirement can change with price, account conditions and temporary leverage limits.

Can U.S. traders use HFM’s advertised gold leverage?

The international XAUUSD page says its materials are not intended for distribution to individuals in the United States, the UK, the EU or other prohibited jurisdictions. Traders must check whether HFM accepts clients in their jurisdiction and which legal entity would hold the account.

The Bottom Line

HFM’s gold-leverage increase is real, but it dates to October 2023. The standard published maximum is up to 1:2000, based on a 0.05% margin requirement, while InfinityX has a qualified no-margin allowance for the first five lots of eligible positions. Equity tiers, news and session rules can reduce that maximum—sometimes to 1:100—so the headline leverage figure should not be treated as a permanent entitlement or a measure of safe risk.

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