XAUUSD trading hours and the best time to trade gold
Gold trades almost around the clock, roughly 23 hours a day from Sunday evening to Friday evening, but it is not equally active the whole time. The biggest moves usually come during the London and New York sessions.
The trading week
XAUUSD opens Sunday evening and closes Friday evening (server time varies by broker), with a short daily break. It does not trade over the weekend, so gaps can appear at the Sunday open if news broke while the market was closed.
The three sessions
Volume follows the sun:
- Asian session is usually quieter, with tighter ranges.
- London session brings the first big surge of volume and volatility.
- New York session overlaps London for a few hours, and this overlap is often the most active window of the day.
When the big moves happen
US economic releases (inflation, jobs, interest-rate decisions) land during the New York morning and can move gold sharply in seconds. Many traders avoid the moment of release and wait for the reaction to settle.
See the sessions on the chart
Our live XAUUSD chart can shade the trading sessions and killzones directly on the candles, so you can see when volume typically arrives. Combine that with reading the chart to time your attention.
FAQ
Is gold traded 24 hours?
Almost. XAUUSD trades roughly 23 hours a day on weekdays with a short daily break, and is closed on weekends.
What is the best time to trade gold?
The London session and the London/New York overlap usually see the most volume and the cleanest moves.
Ready to see it live? Open the free XAUUSD live chart and try these ideas on real price.