MCX Trading Hours in India (2026)
Complete guide to MCX session timings, best windows by commodity, EIA schedule, and when to avoid trading.
MCX Session Quality Throughout the Day
| IST Time | Session | What Is Active | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00–9:15 AM | MCX Open | Volatile open — orders from overnight accumulate. Spreads wide. | Avoid |
| 9:15–11:00 AM | Morning Active | Indian macro data, SEBI/RBI news, early trade. Active for all contracts. | Good |
| 11:00 AM–2:00 PM | Morning Quiet | Low volume. European markets not fully active. Wider spreads. | Moderate |
| 2:00–6:00 PM | LME Session | Best window for Copper, Zinc, Nickel, Lead. LME afternoon pricing at ~8:30 PM IST. | Good (metals) |
| 4:30–7:00 PM | Pre-US Quiet | European morning active, US not open. Moderate volume on gold. | Moderate |
| 7:00–11:30 PM | COMEX/NYMEX Session ★ | PEAK WINDOW. COMEX gold + silver + NYMEX crude all active. EIA data at 8 PM Wed. Best liquidity, tightest spreads. | Best |
| 11:00–11:30 PM | MCX Close | Final 30 min. Volume drops. Settlement approaching. Square off open positions. | Caution |
Best Trading Window by MCX Commodity
| Commodity | Best Window (IST) | Global Driver | Key Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCX Gold Mini / Standard | 7:00–11:30 PM IST | COMEX New York | US economic data 6–8:30 PM, Fed decisions |
| MCX Silver Micro / Mini | 7:00–11:30 PM IST | COMEX New York | More volatile than gold — especially 8–10 PM |
| MCX Crude Oil Mini | 7:30–9:30 PM IST | NYMEX WTI open | EIA inventory: every Wednesday 8:00–8:30 PM |
| MCX Natural Gas Mini | 7:30–9:00 PM IST | NYMEX Natural Gas | EIA storage: every Thursday 8:00–8:30 PM |
| MCX Copper Mini | 2:00–6:00 PM + 8–9:30 PM IST | LME London | LME official close ~8:30 PM IST |
| MCX Zinc / Lead / Nickel | 2:00–6:00 PM IST | LME London | European morning session peak |
| MCX Aluminium | 2:00–5:30 PM IST | LME London | China production data also key driver |
The MCX–Stock Market Confusion
The single most common question from new commodity traders: "Does MCX also close at 3:30 PM?" The answer is no — and this is by design.
NSE and BSE (equity markets) close at 3:30 PM IST because Indian company valuations are primarily driven by domestic factors. MCX commodities — gold, silver, crude oil, copper — are globally priced. The benchmark prices are set in New York (COMEX, NYMEX) and London (LME), which are active while India is in the evening.
If MCX closed at 3:30 PM, Indian commodity traders would have no way to react to a Fed rate decision at 7:30 PM or an EIA inventory surprise at 8 PM. The 11:30 PM close captures almost the entire active US trading session.
The Dead Zone: When NOT to Trade MCX
Other times to avoid
- MCX open (9:00–9:15 AM): First 15 minutes are volatile as accumulated overnight orders hit the market. Spreads are wide.
- MCX close (11:15–11:30 PM): Final 15 minutes see position squaring. Price can spike or drop sharply as traders close.
- MCX expiry week: Near-month contracts become illiquid as traders roll. Spreads widen on the expiring contract.
- Major US data releases without a stop-loss: Fed rate decisions, CPI, Non-Farm Payrolls can move MCX gold ₹500–1,500 in minutes.
Weekly Calendar — Key MCX Events by Day
| Day | Key Event (IST) | Commodity Affected | Typical Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Weekend gap fill, China PMI data | Copper, Gold | Moderate |
| Tuesday | US Consumer Confidence (usually 7:30 PM IST) | Gold, Crude | Low–Moderate |
| Wednesday ⚠ | EIA Crude Oil Inventory (~8:00–8:30 PM IST) | Crude Oil | HIGH — ₹100–400/bbl in minutes |
| Thursday | EIA Natural Gas Storage (~8:00–8:30 PM IST), US Jobless Claims | Natural Gas, Gold | High for Nat Gas |
| Friday | Non-Farm Payrolls (first Friday of month, ~6:00 PM IST) | Gold, Silver, Crude | Very High on NFP Friday |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are MCX trading hours in India?
MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange of India) trading hours are 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM IST, Monday to Friday. This is a single continuous session — there is no lunch break. The 9 AM–5 PM window is the "morning session" (broadly), and 5 PM–11:30 PM is the "evening session" when international markets (COMEX, NYMEX, LME) are most active. MCX is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and declared MCX holidays. The extended hours until 11:30 PM are what make MCX unique — Indian traders can react to US market moves in real time.
What time does MCX gold trading start and close?
MCX Gold (all variants — Gold Mini, Gold Standard, Gold Guinea, Gold Petal) trades from 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM IST on weekdays. The best volume and tightest spreads for MCX Gold are in the evening session: 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM IST, when COMEX gold in New York is actively traded. US market open is at approximately 7:30–8:00 PM IST. Major US economic data (CPI, Fed rate decisions, NFP) releases between 6:00–8:30 PM IST and drives sharp MCX Gold moves.
What time does MCX crude oil trading start and close?
MCX Crude Oil (Mini and Standard) trades from 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM IST on weekdays. The most critical window for crude traders is 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM IST — NYMEX WTI crude open and peak volume. The single most important MCX crude event is the EIA Crude Oil Inventory report, released every Wednesday at approximately 8:00–8:30 PM IST. This causes sharp, often ₹100–300/bbl moves in 1–2 minutes. Crude traders must always check if it is Wednesday and budget for extra volatility.
Does MCX close at 5 PM like the stock market?
No — MCX does NOT close at 5 PM. This is a very common misconception. NSE and BSE (stock markets) close at 3:30 PM IST. MCX commodity trading continues until 11:30 PM IST. This extended session is specifically to allow Indian commodity traders to participate in COMEX (gold/silver), NYMEX (crude oil), and LME (copper/zinc) price discovery, which happens during US and European trading hours. Most of the big price action on MCX gold and crude happens between 7:30 PM and 11:00 PM IST.
What time does LME session affect MCX copper and zinc?
The London Metal Exchange (LME) has two key sessions: Ring session (official price) at 12:00–5:00 PM London time = 4:30–9:30 PM IST; LME Select electronic session runs around the clock. The LME afternoon pricing session (roughly 3:00 PM London = 8:30 PM IST) sets official LME closing prices that MCX copper and zinc reference. Most LME-driven action on MCX copper and zinc happens in the 2:00–6:00 PM IST window (European morning) and again 8:00–9:30 PM IST (LME close).
When should I NOT trade MCX?
Avoid trading MCX between 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM IST — this is the dead zone. European markets are quiet (lunch time in London), US markets are not open yet, and MCX volume drops sharply. Spreads widen, slippage increases, and price moves are often random and thin. Also avoid: trading in the first 15 minutes of MCX open (9:00–9:15 AM IST) until early orders settle; trading around MCX expiry dates when rollover distorts near-month prices; and holding positions through US Fed rate decisions or NFP data without a clear stop-loss.
Is MCX open today? How do I check MCX holidays?
MCX is closed on all Saturdays, Sundays, and approximately 14–16 declared MCX holidays per year (Republic Day, Holi, Good Friday, Diwali Muhurat trading special session, Independence Day, Dussehra, Christmas, etc.). The MCX holiday list is published at the start of each year on mcxindia.com. Note: Diwali Muhurat trading is a special 1-hour session on Diwali evening that most other markets are closed — MCX conducts it as a special event.
Disclaimer: Trading session timings and event schedules are based on standard MCX operating hours and typical US/European data release schedules. MCX may modify trading hours on special occasions. Always verify with your broker or mcxindia.com for the latest schedule. This is educational content only.