گولڈ (XAUUSD) کی ٹریڈنگ پیر سے جمعہ تقریباً چوبیس گھنٹے چلتی ہے، لیکن ہر وقت ایک جیسا نہیں ہوتا۔ پاکستان کے وقت کے مطابق شام پانچ یا چھ بجے سے رات دس بجے تک لندن اور نیویارک کا اوورلیپ سب سے زیادہ موومنٹ والا وقت ہوتا ہے۔ اس مضمون میں تمام سیشنز، بڑی امریکی خبروں کے اوقات اور گولڈ کے لاٹ کا حساب آسان الفاظ میں بیان کیا گیا ہے۔
Gold (XAU/USD) is one of the most traded markets in Pakistan, and for good reason: it moves a lot, it reacts clearly to news and it trades almost around the clock. But the same strategy can work beautifully at 6 PM and fail badly at 6 AM. This guide shows when gold moves, in Pakistan time, so you can plan your trading day instead of chasing the chart.
When is the gold market open?
Spot gold trades from Monday early morning to Saturday early morning, Pakistan time, with a short daily break. The break happens at 5 PM New York time, which is about 2:00 to 3:00 AM PKT in summer and 3:00 to 4:00 AM PKT in winter. Exact times depend on your broker. Spreads are often very wide just before and after this break, so it is a poor time to open trades.
Gold trading sessions in Pakistan time
| Session | Summer (PKT) | Winter (PKT) | What gold usually does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian (Tokyo) | 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM | 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM | Quieter; often moves in a range |
| London | 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM | 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Volume returns; first real moves of the day |
| New York | 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM | 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM | US news and big directional moves |
| London and New York overlap | 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM | 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Highest volume and volatility |
Pakistan does not use daylight saving time, but the UK and the US do, so these hours move by one hour twice a year. In 2026, UK clocks go back on 25 October and US clocks on 1 November; for the week in between, London times are already on the winter column while New York is still on summer. Clocks move forward again in March.
The best time to trade gold in Pakistan
For most traders the best window is the London and New York overlap: about 5 PM to 9 PM in summer and 6 PM to 10 PM in winter. Both of the world’s biggest trading centres are open, spreads are tight and moves are strong enough to reach targets. It also fits well around a normal working day in Pakistan.
The London open (around 12 PM to 1 PM PKT) is a good second window, often setting the direction for the day. The Asian session suits patient range trading, but breakouts there fail more often.
US news that moves gold, in PKT
Gold is priced in US dollars, so American economic data can move it by tens of dollars within minutes. Most US data is released at 8:30 AM New York time, which is 5:30 PM PKT in summer and 6:30 PM PKT in winter.
- Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP): US jobs report, usually the first Friday of the month, 5:30 or 6:30 PM PKT.
- CPI (inflation): once a month, 5:30 or 6:30 PM PKT.
- FOMC interest rate decision: eight times a year at 2:00 PM New York time, which is 11:00 PM PKT in summer and midnight in winter, followed by the press conference.
Check an economic calendar every morning. In the first minutes after these releases, spreads widen and price can jump past stop losses, so many traders simply wait 15 to 30 minutes for the dust to settle.
What makes gold go up or down?
- The US dollar: a stronger dollar usually pushes gold down, a weaker dollar pushes it up.
- US interest rates and bond yields: higher rates make non-paying gold less attractive; expectations of rate cuts tend to support it.
- Fear and uncertainty: wars, crises and market crashes often send investors into gold as a safe haven.
- Central bank buying and long-term demand.
Gold lot size: how much is $1 worth?
On most brokers, 1 standard lot of gold is 100 ounces. That means every $1 move in the gold price is worth:
| Lot size | Profit or loss per $1 move | Per $10 move |
|---|---|---|
| 1.00 | $100 | $1,000 |
| 0.10 | $10 | $100 |
| 0.01 | $1 | $10 |
Gold can easily move $20 to $40 in a single session, so even 0.10 lot can mean a $200 to $400 swing. Always check your broker’s contract size, and size your trade from your stop loss using the method in our lot size and risk management guide.
Practical tips for trading gold
- Plan your analysis before the London open and your main trades for the overlap.
- Avoid opening trades in the minutes around the daily break, when spreads are widest.
- Mark NFP, CPI and FOMC days on your calendar and reduce size or stay out around them.
- Give gold room: stops that are too tight get hit by normal noise. Place them beyond a clear swing high or low.
- Close or protect trades before the weekend if you do not want to hold through Monday’s opening gap.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to trade gold in Pakistan?
The London and New York overlap: roughly 5 PM to 9 PM PKT in summer and 6 PM to 10 PM PKT in winter.
Does gold trade on Saturday and Sunday?
No. Spot gold closes early on Saturday morning, Pakistan time, and reopens early on Monday morning.
Why did my gold trade jump past my stop loss?
During big news or around the daily break, price can gap and spreads widen, so your stop may fill at a worse price than you set. This is called slippage, and it is the main reason to be careful at those times.
Trade gold with a plan
Most of the trades in our VIP Signals room are on gold, each with a clear entry, stop loss and up to three targets, plus instant alerts on your phone. If you want to understand the analysis behind them, start with our Forex Online Course in simple Urdu.
This article is for education only and is not financial advice. Trading gold and forex carries a high level of risk and you can lose some or all of your money. Session times are approximate and can vary by broker.