The Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) is India’s leading commodity derivatives exchange, where various commodities like gold, silver, crude oil, natural gas, copper, zinc, cotton, and others are traded. Understanding the MCX trading hours is essential for both beginner and professional traders to plan their trading strategy, avoid losses due to market closure, and align their entries and exits with global market trends.
General Trading Schedule (Monday to Friday)
1. Morning Session
- Start Time: 9:00 AM IST
- End Time: 5:00 PM IST
- The morning session is common across all commodities and is often used for position building, research-based trading, or hedging by institutions.
2. Evening Session
- Start Time: 5:00 PM IST
- End Time:
- 11:30 PM IST during Winter months (November to March)
- 11:55 PM IST during Summer months (April to October)
- 11:30 PM IST during Winter months (November to March)
This evening session is especially important because it overlaps with global commodity markets, especially US and European markets, where large movements in crude oil, gold, and silver prices often occur.
Segment-Wise Breakdown of MCX Timings
| Commodity Type | Session Start | Session End (Winter) | Session End (Summer) |
| Bullion (Gold, Silver) | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM | 11:55 PM |
| Base Metals (Copper, Nickel, Lead, etc.) | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM | 11:55 PM |
| Energy (Crude Oil, Natural Gas) | 9:00 AM | 11:30 PM | 11:55 PM |
| Agri Commodities (Cotton, Kapas, etc.) | 9:00 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
Agri commodities do not trade in the evening session because they are based on domestic factors like local supply-demand and harvesting patterns.
MCX Trading Days & Holidays
- Open: Monday to Friday
- Closed: Saturday, Sunday, and Public/National Holidays declared by MCX.
- Holiday schedules are announced in advance and are available on the official MCX website.
Why Does MCX Have Extended Hours?
The reason MCX trades until 11:30/11:55 PM is because it follows international commodity market timings, especially those of NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange). Many of the commodities listed on MCX (especially crude oil and gold) are heavily influenced by international developments, so extended evening trading helps Indian traders react in real time.
Winter vs. Summer Time Difference
The slight change in evening session timings is due to the Daylight Saving Time (DST) practice in the United States. MCX aligns its hours with global market hours:
- Winter (Nov–Mar): US is in Standard Time → MCX closes at 11:30 PM
- Summer (Apr–Oct): US is in Daylight Time → MCX closes at 11:55 PM
Useful Tips for Traders
- Watch Global News: Commodity prices are highly sensitive to geopolitical and economic news.
- Focus on Evenings for Liquidity: The evening session generally has higher volume and volatility, especially for bullion and energy.
- Track US Data Releases: Data like US crude oil inventories, inflation, or interest rate decisions affect MCX pricing instantly.
- Agri Caution: Agricultural commodities like cotton don’t trade in the evening, so trade during day hours.
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