Gold Trading Hours (XAUUSD) in GMT and Beijing Time
Gold (XAUUSD) trades from Sunday evening to Friday evening New York time, with a daily one-hour break at 17:00 New York time. Times in GMT and Beijing time for winter and summer.
I wrote this guide based on how I actually trade gold. No theory — just what works after 10 years.
Key takeaways
- ◆New York changes its clock for daylight saving, so the times in GMT and Beijing move by one hour. US daylight saving ...
- ◆London morning, from about 08:00 London time, when European liquidity arrives.
- ◆The daily break and the minutes around it: spreads widen and orders may not fill.
Gold trades almost 24 hours a day, five days a week. Most brokers follow the CME Globex schedule: the market opens at 18:00 New York time on Sunday, pauses for one hour at 17:00 New York time every day, and closes at 17:00 New York time on Friday.
Times by season
New York changes its clock for daylight saving, so the times in GMT and Beijing move by one hour. US daylight saving time ended on 1 November 2026 and starts again on 14 March 2027.
| Winter (Nov–Mar) | Summer (Mar–Nov) | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly open | Sunday 23:00 GMT · Monday 07:00 Beijing | Sunday 22:00 GMT · Monday 06:00 Beijing |
| Daily break | 22:00–23:00 GMT · 06:00–07:00 Beijing | 21:00–22:00 GMT · 05:00–06:00 Beijing |
| Weekly close | Friday 22:00 GMT · Saturday 06:00 Beijing | Friday 21:00 GMT · Saturday 05:00 Beijing |
Many brokers set their server clock to GMT+2 in winter and GMT+3 in summer, so the MT4 chart shows the daily break around midnight server time. Check your broker's contract specification for its exact hours and holiday schedule.
When gold moves most
- London morning, from about 08:00 London time, when European liquidity arrives.
- London afternoon and New York morning, the busiest window, which includes US economic data at 08:30 New York time.
- The Asian session is usually quieter, with lower volume and sometimes wider spreads.
Times to be careful
- The daily break and the minutes around it spreads widen and orders may not fill.
- Monday open prices can gap from Friday's close.
- US holidays hours are shortened; check the broker's holiday notice.
See also why gold spreads widen and the daily gold briefing.
FAQ
Can I trade gold on weekends?
No. The market closes on Friday at 17:00 New York time and reopens on Sunday at 18:00 New York time.
Why can't I place an order at 06:30 Beijing time?
In winter that is inside the daily one-hour break (06:00–07:00 Beijing). Wait until the market reopens.
What is the best time to trade gold?
Liquidity is highest when London and New York overlap, and US data releases at 08:30 New York time often bring the largest moves of the day.
I don't predict. I prepare. Every trade I share here is placed with real money, in real time. No indicators, no noise — just price action and experience.
— Happy trading, Lin
Recommended Brokers
Recommended: Visit EBC → — tested across all sessions.
Start Trading Gold →Recommended: Visit Wisuno → — tested across all sessions.
Start Trading Gold →Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn this?
Most beginners grasp the basics in 2–4 weeks of focused practice. Expect 3–6 months of consistent trading before results become consistent. Start with a demo account.
Do I need a special broker to trade gold?
No. Any regulated broker that offers XAUUSD works. Choose one whose licence you can verify on the regulator's website, and avoid unregulated offshore brokers.
What is the minimum capital to start?
You can open an account with $100–$500, but that is closer to practice money. For real trading, aim for $1,000 or more so you can keep risk to about 1% per trade.
Is price action better than indicators?
Price action strips out the noise; indicators lag. Many traders move to pure price action after years of indicator-based trading because it is cleaner and faster to react to.
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