Gold 5 min read
Best time to trade gold (XAUUSD): the sessions that move
Gold trades around the clock, but its biggest and cleanest moves cluster around London and New York. Knowing when not to trade gold matters just as much.
Gold's key hours (New York time)
- Asian session: quieter, often ranges. Good for marking levels.
- London open (around 3am): first big push of the day.
- London–New York overlap (8am–12pm): the most volume and the biggest moves.
- 8:30am US data: CPI, jobs and retail sales can move gold $20+ in minutes.
- 2pm FOMC days: expect sudden reversals. Many traders stay flat.
Size for gold's range
Gold can move $30–$60 in a day. With 1 lot = 100 oz, that's $3,000–$6,000 per lot. Always size from your stop distance, not from how much you want to make.
Track news days separately
Mark news days in your journal notes. Most gold traders find their worst results cluster around high-impact releases, and simply sitting those out improves their month.
Questions traders ask
What is the best time to trade XAUUSD?
The London and New York overlap, roughly 8am to 12pm New York time, usually has the most volume and movement.
Is gold volatile at the New York open?
Yes, especially around 8:30am US data releases and the 9:30am stock market open.