Checking metals margin requirements before sizing gold scalps

[FXS London Scalper]

Margin on gold is one of those things that's easy to ignore until a broker changes it. I had a week where XAUUSD margin was raised ahead of a big data release, and my usual position size suddenly needed almost double the free margin.

Things I now check before sizing gold or silver:

• Margin per lot on the specific account. Not the website, the platform's symbol specification or a test order with the margin calculator.
• Whether the broker uses tiered margin: the first few lots at one rate, more lots at a higher rate.
• Margin changes before events, usually announced by email a day or two before. Easy to miss.
• Weekend margin, which some brokers raise from Friday afternoon.

Then I calculate how much free margin is left after the planned position. I want at least three times the margin requirement in free equity, so that a fast move against me plus a spread spike can't take me near the stop-out level.

This isn't about risk per trade, which is set by the stop. It's about not being forced out of the position before the stop is reached.

Has anyone been stopped out on gold by margin rather than by their own stop? I'd be interested to know how common that is.