Deccan Primer
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Gold trading hours (IST)

When XAU/USD is most liquid — mapped to Indian Standard Time.

XAU/USD · H1 · our schematic, not a capturemarket watchXAU/USDXAG/USDEUR/USDGBP/USDUSOILBTC/USDxau/usd · h1TARGETENTRYSTOPopen positionXAU/USD0.10 lot · buystopsetswapnightlyp/lrunningCloseMargin was locked when this opened, and is released when it closes.
The terminal shows the session you are in. The spread usually shows it too.

Gold trades nearly around the clock, five days a week. The deepest liquidity is the London–New York overlap, when spreads tighten and moves are cleanest.

SessionHours (IST)Liquidity
Sydney02:30 – 11:30Low
Tokyo05:30 – 14:30Moderate
London12:30 – 21:30High
New York17:30 – 02:30High

For traders in India, the best window is usually the evening London–NY overlap.

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FAQ

Common questions

When is XAU/USD most liquid in Indian time?

Liquidity builds through the London session and peaks when London and New York overlap, which falls in the Indian evening and late night. The Asian session, covering the Indian morning, is typically quieter. If you can only trade in the morning, expect narrower ranges and wider spreads around quiet moments.

Is gold trading open on weekends from India?

No. Spot XAU/USD closes late Friday in New York and reopens early Monday, which in Indian time means a weekend closure spanning Saturday and most of Sunday. Positions held across that gap carry weekend risk, since news can move the opening price well away from Friday's close.

Which hours should I avoid because liquidity is thin?

The thinnest stretches are the late US afternoon rollover and the quiet hours before Asia opens, both of which fall in the Indian early morning. Spreads tend to widen and price can slip on small orders there. If your schedule allows, concentrate activity when two major sessions overlap.

Do trading hours change around daylight saving or holidays?

Yes. Session times shift when the US and UK move in and out of daylight saving, which changes the Indian-time equivalents by an hour for part of the year. Public holidays in major markets also shorten or thin sessions. Recheck the schedule rather than assuming last month's timings still hold.

Should I hold a gold position overnight or over a session close?

That depends on your strategy and on what is scheduled. Overnight holding exposes you to gaps and to financing costs that accrue on open positions, and gold can move on news while you sleep. If you do hold, size the position so a gap against you stays within the risk you set with the position size calculator.