Tokyo · Shanghai · XAU/USD
Asian Gold Trading Hours
Asia keeps spot gold quoted overnight, but the book is thinner than London. Expect wider spreads and sharper moves on thin news — then hand off to European bullion desks.
When Asia matters for gold
Roughly 00:00–07:00 UTC (Tokyo forex session) is the quiet stretch for retail XAU/USD. Shanghai daytime can add bursts of physical and futures-related flow that do not show up the same way in EUR/USD.
- 00–07UTC Tokyo band
- WideTypical spreads
- RiskHeadline spikes
- 08:00UTC London pickup
Tokyo session and gold
USD/JPY desks dominate Asian FX, but gold still prints. Liquidity is secondary: good for smaller size and monitoring risk-off bids, weak for large limit books. Pair with the live Tokyo session clock.
Shanghai and physical demand
China-related physical and SGE-linked flow can nudge XAU/USD even when Western banks are offline. Treat those moves as Asia-specific — they often fade or reverse once London opens.
When to wait for London
If your edge needs tight spreads and deep two-way flow, wait for the London gold session or the London–NY overlap guide.
Weekend reopen
Sunday’s Sydney/Asia open often gaps. Spot gold reopens with forex — check is gold open before sizing up.
Asian gold FAQ
Is the Asian session bad for gold?
It is thinner, not empty. Spreads widen and slippage rises. Risk headlines can still drive large XAU/USD moves with less opposing liquidity.
What time is Asian gold trading?
Think of the Tokyo forex window (~00:00–09:00 UTC standard reference) as the Asian gold overnight. Shanghai hours add daytime China flow on top of that.
Should I trade gold only in London?
Many retail strategies do. Asia suits smaller risk or news monitoring. Full schedule: gold trading hours.