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Gold trading hours (IST)

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

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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 (AEST)Liquidity
Sydney07:00 – 16:00Low
Tokyo10:00 – 19:00Moderate
London17:00 – 02:00High
New York22:00 – 07:00High

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

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FAQ

Common questions

When is XAU/USD most liquid in Australian time?

Liquidity builds as the European session opens and peaks when London and New York overlap, which falls in the late evening and early morning for readers in Australia. The Asian session is quieter but still active. If you trade during your daytime, expect thinner conditions and wider quotes than the overnight peak.

Is it safe to trade gold during the Australian afternoon?

It is possible, but the afternoon here sits in a quieter stretch between the Asian close and the European open, so quotes can be wider and moves can be choppy. It depends on your strategy: a patient swing approach may cope, while a short-term approach that needs tight execution may not.

Does gold trade over the weekend in Australian time?

No. The market closes for the weekend and reopens at the start of the next trading week, which lands on a Monday in Australian time. Positions held through that break carry gap risk, because the reopening price can differ from the last price before the close, and stops do not protect against a gap.

Why do spreads and slippage change through the trading day?

They change with liquidity and volatility. When many participants are active, quotes are usually easier to fill; when the market is thin, or around major scheduled data, the spread can widen and orders can fill away from the requested price. It depends on the instrument, the session and the news calendar, so check before you trade.

How do public holidays affect gold trading hours?

Holidays in the major markets can shorten or thin the session, and some venues close entirely, so hours are not identical every week. The effect depends on which market is closed and how much liquidity it normally supplies. Check your broker's holiday schedule and the economic calendar before relying on a normal session.