Gold Trading Sessions: Asian, London & NY Explained
Complete guide to gold trading sessions. How gold behaves during Asian, London, and NY sessions, volatility patterns by session, and which session suits your trading style.
Most guides on this topic are written by people who have never traded real money. This one is from the desk of a scalper.
The Three Gold Trading Sessions
Gold and the US dollar usually move in opposite directions. When the dollar weakens, gold rises. I watch DXY (dollar index) as a proxy before every trade. It is not a perfect indicator, but it helps.
Asian Session — Range Trading
The Asian session is great for range trading. The London session has the highest volume. The NY session has the most volatility. I trade NY because I prefer volatility over volume. Choose your session based on your personality, not your schedule.
London Session — Trend Development
Friday NY session is different. Volume drops after 12 PM as traders close positions for the week. I rarely enter new trades on Friday afternoons. Too much noise, too little follow-through.
New York Session — Volatility Maximized
I trade the US session exclusively. 8 AM to 12 PM New York time is when gold moves. I live in Singapore, so that means I am at my desk from 8 PM to midnight. It took some adjustment, but it was worth it.
Choose Your Session Based on Your Style
If you can only trade one session, make it the overlap between London and NY (12 PM to 4 PM GMT). That two-hour window sees the most gold movement. I built my entire strategy around it.
I have been trading XAUUSD for 6 years. Everything in this guide comes from real trades at my desk in Singapore — not from textbooks. Here is what I have learned.
---
Session Volatility Comparison
Maybe i'm wrong, this year alone, - Asian Session (Tokyo/Tokyo-London overlap): 300-500 pip average range. Lower volatility, tighter ranges. Best for breakout and range trading. Most predictable session.
well: just last month, I watched a trader - London Session: 600-1,000 pip average range. Medium volatility. Highest volume. Trend-following strategies shine. London open (08:00 GMT) is a key inflection point. It's honestly terrible.
- NY Session 800-1,500+ pip average range. High volatility. London-NY overlap (13:00-16:00 GMT) is peak activity. News-driven moves dominate. Use reduced position sizes.
Session-Specific Trading Strategies
Asian Session Strategy (23:00-08:00 GMT)
- Focus: Support/resistance ranges established from previous sessions
- Position size: 100% of normal (lowest volatility)
- Best for: Range trading, breakout preparation for London open
On this page
Recommended Brokers
Recommended: Trade gold with EBC — tested across all sessions.
Start Trading Gold →Recommended: Trade gold with Wisuno — tested across all sessions.
Start Trading Gold →Related Guides
What You Will Learn in This Guide
This guide covers "how to start gold trading", "gold trading for beginners", "how to trade gold". Whether you are new to gold trading or refining your approach, understanding {category.toLowerCase()} principles helps you make better trading decisions.
Why Gold Trading Sessions: Asian, London & NY Explained Matters for Gold Trading
Every gold trader needs to understand "how to calculate gold pip value", "proper lot size for gold", "margin calculator gold". Without proper {toolName.toLowerCase()}, you are trading blind. Use this tool alongside how to start gold trading, trader psychology tips and gold trading discipline to build a complete risk management framework.
Related Risk Management Concepts
Understanding "how to calculate gold pip value", "proper lot size for gold", "margin calculator gold" is just the beginning. Serious gold traders also study how to start gold trading, trader psychology tips and gold trading discipline to protect their capital. Master these concepts and you will trade with confidence across all sessions.
More from Doug's Desk
Hand-picked by Doug — from my trading desk to yours.
Gold Trading Sessions: Asian, London & NY Explained
This covers the strategy I use during US session trading. Tested across hundreds of sessions.
6 min readBreakout Trading for Gold: Identify and Trade Key Levels
A practical guide — no theory, from my desk to yours.
7 min readHow to Trade Price Action Signals: A Step-by-Step Guide
This covers the strategy I use during US session trading. Tested across hundreds of sessions.
7 min readGold Trading Strategies for Asian Session
One of the first guides I wrote for gold traders — still the foundation of my approach.