Web Trader MT5 
XAUUSD trading hours adhere to the 24/5 schedule. However, awareness of the exact opening, closing, and rollover times, and the best time to conduct business in the gold market, can make a real difference to execution.
Time sensitivity is important for US-based traders, particularly during overlapping sessions, daily rollover, and the weekly open. This guide presents the entire schedule to help you know when gold becomes active and when the conditions can change quickly.
Have you ever felt that spreads widen towards the end of the day, or that price action seems better in some hours? If so, the missing piece is XAUUSD’s forex trading hours.
Although the gold market operates almost around the clock, liquidity is not constant. We will go through the weekly open and close, the daily rollover window, and the busiest trading sessions below in simple tables you can consult at a glance.
Quick Answer
- XAUUSD trading hours start from Sunday 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT/ 11:00 PM GMT and close Friday 5:00 PM ET/2:00 PM PT/10:00 PM GMT
- Wider spreads and reduced liquidity occur in the daily rollover window (usually 5:00 PM ET)
- The majority of active markets are in the London session (3:00 AM-12:00 PM ET) and the London-New York overlap (8:00 AM-12:00 PM ET)
- Weekends are closed, and prices may gap on Sunday’s open from weekend news
- Check the specific hours on your trading platform, as contract specifications vary
| Event | ET | PT | GMT |
| Weekly Open (Sunday) | 6:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| Weekly Close (Friday) | 5:00 PM | 2:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Daily Rollover | ~5:00 PM | ~2:00 PM | ~10:00 PM |
What Are XAUUSD Trading Hours in ET?
XAUUSD trades 24/5; it opens overnight on Sunday night and continues until Friday afternoon, according to the global forex market schedule.
Consider it this way: if one financial powerhouse shuts, another one opens. Sydney in the Gold markets passes to Tokyo, then to London, and finally to New York. The round-the-clock quoting brings about a 24-hour market on weekdays.
However, the specific hours vary in a few cases depending on the platform and instrument specifications. Always verify the terms and specifications in your trading platform. Not all trading platforms match exactly.
Weekly Schedule (ET, PT, GMT)
| Day | Event | ET | PT | GMT* |
| Sunday | Weekly Open | 6:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| Monday–Thursday | Continuous Trading | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Friday | Weekly Close | 5:00 PM | 2:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Saturday | Closed | All Day | All Day | All Day |
Note: U.S. daylight saving time (March to November) can affect the time in GMT. When the US observes daylight saving time, but the UK doesn’t (or vice versa), add/deduct one hour, respectively.
When Does XAUUSD Open and Close Each Week?
Gold forex trading hours begin every week on Sunday at 6:00 PM ET and end on Friday at 5:00 PM ET, in line with the world forex market schedule.
The weekly open occurs on Sunday evening US time, since it is Monday morning in Asia, when the Sydney and Tokyo markets open for the week. Then, for Friday’s close? It gives traders the weekend off.
What Happens at the Weekly Open?
Here’s where it actually gets interesting, and possibly at a high cost:
- During the first 30-60 minutes, when liquidity accumulates, spreads may widen
- There could be gaps if major news breaks over the weekend
- Liquidity will gradually accumulate as more players join, and tighter spreads are anticipated after the Asian session clears.
When you hold positions over the weekend, the price will likely spike at the open. That gap may work in your favor or against you; there is no way to manage it.
Is Spot Gold Open 24 Hours a Day?
Spot gold market hours operate on 24/5, in line with global market practice: spot/OTC is 24/5, and retail trading platforms follow suit.
To avoid confusion, we should first define spot gold. Spot gold is the over-the-counter market where large institutions buy and sell physical gold. This market is not centrally exchanged at fixed hours; it operates across global time zones, with traders trading bilaterally.
It is on this underlying spot market activity that your retail platform quotes. When you see “24-hour trading” on the screen, it means your platform is displaying the continuous pricing in the global spot market.
Spot vs Futures vs CFDs
- Spot gold: OTC Physical gold; institutional market.
- Gold futures: Standardized contracts that are traded on exchanges and have their delivery dates.
- XAUUSD CFD: Contract for difference tracking gold spot; no physical delivery, cash-settled.
Most retail traders on forex platforms are not trading real spot gold or futures; they are trading XAUUSD as a CFD or forex pair.
What Is the Daily Rollover Window and Why Does It Matter?
Rollover (also referred to as a swap) is the interest adjustment applied to leveraged positions held overnight, typically around 5:00 PM ET.
Here’s the deal: when trading XAUUSD with leverage, the buyer is effectively borrowing capital. The interest is credited or charged daily by the brokers to show the cost of carrying such a leveraged position. This is calculated during the rollover window; normally, a few minutes before or after 5:00 PM ET.
During rollover:
- Spreads may increase significantly. Some market makers retreat, reducing liquidity. A normally 30-cent spread could increase to 1-2 during a few minutes.
- Orders can slip. Liquidity may be lower, and you may be filled at lower prices during rollover if you are attempting to enter or exit.
Checklist:
- If your stop is within 10–20 pips of the price, wait until after rollover
- Avoid market orders during the 5:00–6:00 PM ET window
- Check your platform’s posted rollover time and any maintenance schedules
Practical Tips Around Rollover
- Widen your stops if you need to leave them open during rollover.
- Market orders should be avoided during 5:00-5:15 PM ET.
- Check your system’s swap regulations; some days charge a triple swap fee.
- Check platform maintenance schedules; some brokers do brief maintenance.
Most seasoned traders roll out of positions or simply take the cost of swapping some positions overnight.
When Is XAUUSD Most Active During the Day?
XAUUSD trading sessions reveal most activity during the London session and the London-New York overlap, when the liquidity and volume are the greatest.
The gold market is global, but it’s not always active throughout the day.
Session Activity (ET)
| Session | Approximate Hours (ET) | Typical Behavior |
| Asian Session | 6:00 PM – 3:00 AM | Steadier moves; lower volume; range-bound trading |
| London Session | 3:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Increased volume; breakouts more likely |
| New York Session | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Major US data impact; highest volatility |
| London–NY Overlap | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Busiest window; tightest spreads; largest moves |
Wondering where the action occurs? It is at the London-New York overlap (8:00 AM-12:00 PM ET). Both of the largest financial centers are active, trade volume surges, and spreads narrow to their narrowest levels.
The Asian session? Quieter. Gold does not stand still, but you will have more range and fewer breakouts.
How Do I Convert XAUUSD Hours to GMT or My Time Zone?
XAUUSD trading hours GMT are 11:00 PM on Sundays through 10:00 PM on Fridays; however, you must account for daylight saving time (DST) variations that affect ET-GMT conversion.
Here’s the simple method:
- Start with ET times: XAUUSD trading runs from Sunday at 6:00 PM ET to Friday at 5:00 PM ET.
- ET to GMT: Add 5 hours for standard (November-March) or 4 hours for daylight saving (March-November) time.
- Double-check daylight saving: The US and UK do not always observe it on the same days, resulting in a 1-2 week period when the time difference varies.
Fast Conversion Tips
- ET to PT: Subtract 3 hours (6:00 PM ET = 3:00 PM PT)
- ET to Central European Time: Add 6 hours during standard time
- Confirm with your platform: Most trading platforms will show you the times in your local time zone automatically
Is XAUUSD Tradable on Weekends?
No, XAUUSD is usually closed on weekends. Some websites may indicate pricing, but trading is generally not allowed from Friday close to Sunday open.
On your platform, a live quote may be available on weekends. That is usually a representative quote rather than a trade quote. You cannot be in or out of positions, or have stop-losses trigger.
Plan around the weekly close. If you hold through to the end of Friday, you are at risk of being exposed to gap risk at the Sunday open. Major events over the weekend can cause gold to gap sharply when markets reopen.
Do Holidays Change Gold Market Hours?
Yes, major US/UK holidays typically result in early closures or reduced liquidity, although XAUUSD can remain open technically.
During holidays such as US Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or UK bank holidays, the rate of institutional participation declines dramatically. Quotes may continue to trade, spreads may widen, and liquidity may decrease.
Always be aware of platform announcements of early closes, and check the economic calendar to see which holidays are ahead. Some traders even completely avoid trading during major holidays.
Platforms like STARTRADER offer MT4 and MT5 trading systems that provide real-time quotes for XAUUSD. The contract specifications and rollover times are clearly displayed in the contract details section of the site.
Before Your Next XAUUSD Trade
- Establish platform contract hours
- Note the daily rollover window
- Test high-impact economic releases
- Avoid low-liquidity periods if using tight stops
Frequently Asked Questions
A: The XAUUSD trades 24/5 and opens every Sunday at 6:00 PM ET and closes every Friday at 5:00 PM ET.
A: The weekly open is Sunday at 6:00 PM ET. The session in New York begins approximately 8:00 AM ET every day.
A: XAUUSD is closed Friday at 5:00 PM ET (2:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM GMT), though times vary by platform.
A: No, spot gold markets close on Friday afternoon and reopen on Sunday evening. Trading on weekends is not possible.
A: Daily rollover usually occurs around 5:00 PM ET, when overnight interest is determined, and spreads can increase.
A: Liquidity decreases temporarily as market makers reprice the daily interest calculation and widen spreads.
A: Yes, XAUUSD follows the same 24/5 trading hours as the forex market because gold is traded as a currency pair.
A: Yes, XAUUSD is widely traded on MT4 and MT5 as a CFD or forex pair.
Final Thoughts
The XAUUSD market is almost 24/5, although not every hour is the same. London-New York overlap has the narrowest spreads, and Asians are quieter. Widening of rollover windows is transient, and weekend closures cause gap risk.
The trick is to recognize when the conditions are appropriate to your strategy. Day traders prefer the London-NY overlap, whereas position traders look at timing (weekly) and swap costs. Make sure your platform is open during the exact hours, schedule around rollovers, and do not assume that holiday weeks will trade normally.
Please note that this article is educational and not an investment directive. Trading carries risk, and hours/rollover windows may vary by trading platform and instrument specifications; always verify the market’s correct trading time on the platform before placing orders.
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