Why a 5,000-Point XAUUSD Move Does Not Produce the Same Profit for Everyone

A 5,000-point move describes price distance; it does not guarantee the same cash profit for every account. Actual outcomes depend on the filled entry price, contract specification, position size, spread, slippage, commissions, swaps, partial exits, stop management, and whether a runner was held.

What does 5,000 points mean?

In the example plan, the distance from Entry 4340.58 to Runner 4290.58 is USD 50.00. If that broker symbol defines one point as 0.01, the move equals 5,000 points. Traders should verify the symbol's Contract Specification because point value and contract size can differ.

Why results differ

• Entry: the actual fill may differ from the plan level.
• Spread: bid/ask costs vary by broker, account, liquidity, and time.
• Slippage: fast markets may fill an order away from the displayed or requested price.
• Position size: the same price move has a different cash value at different lot sizes.
• Trade management: partial exits, stop adjustments, and runners change the net result.

A practical formula

Use the actual captured price distance multiplied by the point value for the contract and position size, then subtract trading costs. Calculate from trade-history fills rather than levels shown in an illustration.

Conclusion

Plan levels should be reported as plan performance, not as identical account performance. The same plan can produce different outcomes for different traders.

Trading involves risk. Study the information before making an investment decision.

Sources

• CFTC: Eight Things You Should Know Before Trading Forex
• Investor.gov: Executing an Order