Gold trading hours: when to trade gold
Gold is one of the most-traded precious metals on the market, but when is the best time to trade gold? Here, we go through the trading times of different gold markets, and we explain different ways that you can trade gold.
What are the trading times of gold markets?
The trading times of gold markets depend on whether you are trading on spot, futures or options prices. IG offers CFD trading on spot gold prices between our standard market hours of 11pm Sunday to 10pm (UK time) Friday.
We also enable you to speculate on gold futures with CFDs. Our gold futures trading hours are 24 hours a day, five days a week, except between 10pm to 11pm (UK time).
For trading on gold options, IG offers CFD trading on daily options between 7.30am on Monday until 9.15pm on Friday (UK time). As well as daily options, we also offer weekly and monthly options.
Find out more about our options offering
| Weekly open (UK time) | Close (UK time) | |
| Spot | 11pm (Sunday) | 10pm (Friday) |
| Futures | 11pm (Sunday) | 10pm (the following day until Friday) |
| Options | 7.30am (Monday) | 9.15pm (Friday) |
CFDs enable you to speculate on the price of gold without having to take ownership or delivery of the underlying market. This means that they can be used to take a position on the price of gold rising (by going long), as well as falling (by going short).
To trade gold today, follow the steps below:
- Create or log in to your IG account
- Learn what moves the price of gold
- Decide whether you want to go long or short
- Take steps to manage your risk
- Open and monitor your position
When is the best time to trade gold?
There are different times when a trader might want to take a position on gold. This is because, the market price is determined by current political and economic conditions around the world which might cause shifts in supply and demand. An increased supply but consistent demand will lead to lower prices, and a reduced supply but consistent demand will lead to lower prices.
However, many traders accept that gold is a ‘safe-haven’ asset, meaning that in times of economic uncertainty, it retains its value, or it might even increase. This is because more and more market participants will look to store their money in gold rather than in other assets, which causes demand to outstrip supply.
What are the ways to trade gold?
There are four primary ways to trade gold: trading at spot prices, trading futures, trading with options and by investing directly in gold.
- Spot prices enable you to take a position on the current market value of gold
- Trading futures enables you to speculate on the price of gold futures rising or falling
- Trading gold options means you are taking a position on the price of a gold options contract
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The information/research herein is prepared by IG Asia Pte Ltd (IGA) and its foreign affiliated companies (collectively known as the IG Group) and is intended for general circulation only. It does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any particular person. You should take into account your specific investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs before making a commitment to trade, including seeking advice from an independent financial adviser regarding the suitability of the investment, under a separate engagement, as you deem fit.
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