JustChartsGold Trading Hours: When Is the Gold Market Open?
Gold (XAU/USD and COMEX futures) trades almost 24 hours a day from Sunday 6:00 p.m. to Friday 5:00 p.m. New York time, with a daily break from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. New York time. That break is 22:00–23:00 UTC in the northern winter and 21:00–22:00 UTC in summer. Gold is most active during the London–New York overlap.
Key facts
- Weekly open
- Sunday 6:00 p.m. New York time
- Weekly close
- Friday 5:00 p.m. New York time
- Daily break
- 5:00–6:00 p.m. New York time
- Busiest window
- 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. New York time
- LBMA Gold Price auctions
- 10:30 and 15:00 London time
Gold market hours in UTC
| Northern winter (UTC) | Northern summer (UTC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly open (Sunday) | 23:00 | 22:00 |
| Daily break | 22:00–23:00 | 21:00–22:00 |
| Weekly close (Friday) | 22:00 | 21:00 |
| London–New York overlap | 13:00–17:00 | 12:00–16:00 |
Spot gold CFDs follow nearly the same schedule as COMEX gold futures on CME Globex. Your broker’s exact hours may differ by a few minutes, and markets close or shorten hours on major US holidays.
When is the best time to trade gold?
- London morning: European physical and institutional trading, plus the LBMA Gold Price auction at 10:30 London time.
- London–New York overlap: the deepest liquidity, and the time when US data is released at 8:30 a.m. New York time.
- Asian session: quieter, but demand from China and other Asian markets can move prices.
Which news moves gold during market hours?
US non-farm payrolls, CPI inflation and Federal Reserve decisions cause the largest intraday moves. The JustCharts economic calendar shows each release in your own time zone with a countdown.
Is gold open on weekends?
No. Gold stops trading on Friday afternoon New York time and reopens on Sunday evening. Prices can “gap” at the Sunday open if major news breaks over the weekend.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the gold market open on Sunday?
At 6:00 p.m. New York time, which is 23:00 UTC in winter and 22:00 UTC in summer.
Does gold trade 24 hours a day?
Almost — it trades around the clock from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon (New York time), apart from a daily one-hour break from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. New York time.
What is the best time of day to trade gold?
The London–New York overlap, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. New York time, usually has the most volume and the biggest moves, especially around US data releases.
Why can’t I trade gold at 5 p.m. New York time?
That is the daily maintenance break for COMEX futures and most gold CFDs. Trading resumes at 6:00 p.m. New York time.
Put it into practice
Live charts, an economic calendar and trading calculators — free with a JustCharts account.
See the events that move gold this weekThis article is for education only and is not financial advice. Trading leveraged products carries a high risk of losing money. Contract sizes, trading hours and leverage limits vary by broker and country — always check your own broker’s specifications.