If you trade gold as a CFD, you may have noticed two symbols on your watchlist: the classic XAUUSD and the newer XAUUSD247. At first glance they look identical, since both track spot gold against the US dollar. Underneath, they behave differently. Trading hours, contract size, spreads and margin all change depending on which one you pick.
This guide breaks down XAUUSD vs XAUUSD247 in plain English. It answers two of the most searched questions: what time does XAUUSD open and what time does XAUUSD247 open. It also compares volatility across sessions, so you can decide which symbol fits your trading style. As with all CFDs, you trade the price movement of gold without owning the physical metal.
Key takeaways
- XAUUSD and XAUUSD247 follow the same underlying gold price in US dollars. They differ in trading hours, contract size, spread behaviour and margin structure.
- XAUUSD trades Monday to Friday. It opens at 01:00 server time on Monday, has a short daily pause, and closes for the weekend.
- XAUUSD247 quotes seven days a week, 00:00 to 24:00 server time, with only brief maintenance windows.
- One lot of XAUUSD is 100 troy ounces. One lot of XAUUSD247 is 1 troy ounce. That makes position sizing far more flexible on smaller accounts.
- Weekend spreads on XAUUSD247 are usually wider (from around 40 points, against around 20 points on weekdays) because fewer participants are active.
- Gold has been unusually volatile in 2026. It made 12 all-time highs in the first half of the year and swung by nearly 30% between its January peak and its late-June low, so knowing when each symbol can be traded matters.
- Neither symbol is “better” in general. The right choice depends on your schedule, account size and how you manage weekend exposure.
What is XAUUSD?
XAUUSD is the standard symbol for spot gold priced in US dollars. “XAU” is the ISO code for one troy ounce of gold and “USD” is the US dollar, so the quote tells you how many dollars one ounce of gold costs—gold quoted in US dollars. It is one of the most actively traded instruments in the world. Most retail traders access it as a CFD on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and web platforms, rather than owning physical gold directly.
If you are new to the metal, our complete beginner’s guide to gold trading covers the basics before you compare symbols.
Core features of XAUUSD
- Contract size: 1 standard lot = 100 troy ounces.
- Trading days: Monday to Friday, following the global over-the-counter gold market.
- Liquidity: Deepest during the London and New York sessions, when banks, funds and market makers are most active.
- Pricing: Streamed from institutional liquidity providers, so quotes reflect the interbank gold market.
- Ecosystem: Most expert advisors (EAs), indicators, signals and educational content are built around this symbol.
Because one lot represents 100 ounces, the notional value of a single XAUUSD lot is large. At a gold price of $4,000 per ounce, one standard lot controls $400,000 of exposure. Many traders therefore use mini lots (0.10) or micro lots (0.01) to scale down.
What is XAUUSD247?
XAUUSD247 is a gold CFD offered by a broker for traders who want continuous access, including Saturdays and Sundays. VT Markets launched XAUUSD247 on 5 August 2026. It joined a wave of brokers that introduced continuous gold pricing during 2026, as more traders looked for ways to react to news breaking outside the traditional week.
The idea is simple. Gold reacts to geopolitical headlines, central bank comments and macro surprises at any hour. XAUUSD247 gives you a way to open, adjust or close a gold position during periods when standard XAUUSD is paused.
Core features of XAUUSD247
- Contract size: 1 lot = 1 troy ounce, so the minimum position is very small.
- Trading days: Seven days a week, with indicative quotes from 00:00 to 24:00 server time.
- Spreads: Variable, from around 20 points on weekdays and around 40 points at weekends, depending on market conditions.
- Commission: $0 across account types, with costs built into the spread.
- Leverage: Tiered. Maximum leverage steps down as your net position size increases.
- Margin: Single-sided margin for eligible hedged positions. If you hold 3 lots buy and 4 lots sell, margin is calculated on the 4-lot side only.
- Platforms: Available on the VT Markets App, MetaTrader 5 and Web Trading, subject to account type and region.
You can view the full contract details, including leverage tiers and exposure limits, on the XAUUSD247 product page.
XAUUSD vs XAUUSD247: side-by-side comparison
The table below summarises the main differences for a retail trader comparing both symbols.
| Feature | XAUUSD | XAUUSD247 |
|---|---|---|
| Underlying | Spot gold in US dollars | Spot gold in US dollars |
| Trading days | Monday to Friday | Monday to Sunday |
| Trading hours (server time) | 01:00 to 24:00 on weekdays | 00:00 to 24:00, seven days |
| Weekend trading | No | Yes |
| Contract size (1 lot) | 100 oz | 1 oz |
| Typical spread | From 20 points | From 20 points weekdays, around 40 points weekends |
| Commission | $0 on Standard STP, $6 per round turn on Raw ECN | $0 on all account types |
| Leverage | Depends on account type and entity | Tiered, reducing as position size grows |
| Hedged margin | Standard margin | Single-sided (larger side only) |
| Overnight swap | Weekdays, with a triple charge mid-week | Applies to positions held through rollover |
| Platforms | App, MT4, MT5, Web | App, MT5, Web |
The short version: XAUUSD offers the most liquid weekday market and the widest platform support. XAUUSD247 trades more flexibly on time and position size.
What time does XAUUSD open?
This is one of the most common questions among gold traders, and the answer depends on your time zone. Trading platforms run on server time, which for many brokers is GMT+2 in winter and GMT+3 when daylight saving applies. Our guide to GMT offset and server time explains how the shift works in detail.
XAUUSD weekly opening and closing times
XAUUSD opens at 01:00 server time on Monday and closes at 24:00 server time on Friday. Converted into common time zones:
| Event | Server time | GMT (winter / summer) | UK time | Singapore / Kuala Lumpur |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly open | Monday 01:00 | Sunday 23:00 / Sunday 22:00 | Sunday 23:00 | Monday 07:00 / 06:00 |
| Weekly close | Friday 24:00 | Friday 22:00 / 21:00 | Friday 22:00 | Saturday 06:00 / 05:00 |
| Daily pause | 00:00 to 01:00 | 22:00 to 23:00 / 21:00 to 22:00 | 22:00 to 23:00 | 06:00 to 07:00 / 05:00 to 06:00 |
Take note: Daylight saving dates in the US and UK do not change on the same weekend. For a few weeks each spring and autumn, UK times can be one hour off from the table above. Always check the symbol’s trading session in your platform’s contract specification. You can also read our guide to server time.
The daily pause on XAUUSD
XAUUSD has a short pause around the server-time midnight rollover each weekday. During this window, quotes stop updating and new orders cannot be filled. Spreads often widen just before and after the pause because liquidity providers are rolling their books. Many short-term traders avoid opening fresh positions in the 15 to 30 minutes around this time.
What time does XAUUSD247 open?
XAUUSD247 provides indicative quotes from 00:00 to 24:00 server time, seven days a week. In practice:
- Weekdays: Pricing is continuous, with only brief maintenance or rollover interruptions.
- Weekends: The market stays open on Saturday and Sunday, so you can manage positions while XAUUSD is closed.
- Maintenance windows: Short system pauses may occur, and availability can vary by platform and region.
| Day | XAUUSD | XAUUSD247 |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | Open (with daily pause) | Open (continuous) |
| Saturday | Closed | Open |
| Sunday | Closed until the weekly open | Open |
Reminder: “Open” does not mean equally liquid. Weekend quotes on XAUUSD247 come from fewer participants than the London or New York weekday sessions. Spreads are usually wider, and prices can move in steps rather than smoothly.
XAUUSD vs XAUUSD247 volatility comparison
Because both symbols track the same underlying gold price, their direction is broadly the same during weekday hours. What differs is how that volatility reaches your account, and when you are able to respond to it.
Gold volatility in 2026: the bigger picture
This year has reminded traders how quickly gold can move. According to the World Gold Council:
- Spot gold reached its intraday all-time high of 5,602.225 USD on January 29, 2026.
- The market recorded 12 all-time highs in the first half of 2026.
- By late June, gold had fallen to roughly $3,960 per ounce, a sharp drop of close to 29% from the January peak.
- Returns differed sharply by session in the first half of the year. Gold gained about 13% during Asian hours, lost about 15% during US hours and slipped about 1.3% during European hours.
Global supply matters too, with China among the world’s largest gold producers.
Gold prices can fluctuate with inflation and interest-rate expectations, which helps explain the large 2026 swings and why market sentiment can shift quickly by date on a real time chart that traders watch closely.
That last point matters for this comparison. Gold’s price action is spread unevenly across the trading day, and a meaningful share of news lands outside the traditional window.
How volatility shows up on XAUUSD
- Intraday: Volatility peaks around US data releases such as CPI, non-farm payrolls and Federal Reserve rate decisions, so traders often watch real-time market sentiment around each date to judge the move. Around those releases, gold can move very differently from stocks and major currencies, especially when the data quickly shifts rate expectations. Deep liquidity usually keeps spreads tight even on busy days.
- Weekend gaps: Because XAUUSD is closed from Friday night to Monday morning, any news over the weekend is priced in all at once at the open, with the Monday open often the point traders watch for a sharp drop or jump after weekend news. During periods of uncertainty, traders also watch gold closely against fiat currencies as a safe-haven signal. The first price on Monday can sit well above or below Friday’s close, and a stop-loss may be filled at that gapped price rather than at the level you set.
How volatility shows up on XAUUSD247
- Weekdays: Behaviour is very similar to XAUUSD, because both reflect the same active market.
- Weekends: Rather than one large gap on Monday, price discovery happens gradually across Saturday and Sunday. You can react as the news develops, though with wider spreads and thinner liquidity.
- Monday handover: When the main market reopens, XAUUSD247 prices can adjust as weekday liquidity returns. Small differences between weekend levels and the Monday price are possible.
Volatility summary table
| Volatility factor | XAUUSD | XAUUSD247 |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday price behaviour | Deep liquidity, tight spreads | Similar to XAUUSD |
| Weekend news | Priced in as a Monday gap | Priced in gradually over the weekend |
| Weekend spreads | Not applicable (closed) | Wider, around 40 points or more |
| Slippage risk | Highest at the Monday open | Higher during thin weekend periods |
| Ability to respond to weekend events | None until Monday | Yes, during weekend hours |
Precaution: Neither symbol removes volatility. XAUUSD247 changes when you can act, and XAUUSD concentrates weekend risk into the Monday open. Whichever you trade, use stop-loss and take-profit orders and size positions conservatively around major events.
Costs: spreads, commission and swaps
Trading costs add up quickly in gold, especially for active traders. Here is how the two symbols compare.
Spreads and commission
- XAUUSD spreads start from around 20 points. On a Standard STP account costs are built into the spread with no commission. On a Raw ECN account you get raw spreads plus a $6 round-turn commission per lot.
- XAUUSD247 spreads start from around 20 points on weekdays and around 40 points at weekends, with no commission on any account type.
If spreads are a new concept, our explainer on what forex spread is and how to calculate it walks through the maths.
A like-for-like cost example
To compare fairly, look at the same 100-ounce exposure on both symbols. On a gold price quoted to two decimals, 20 points equals $0.20 per ounce.
| Scenario | XAUUSD (1 lot = 100 oz) | XAUUSD247 (100 lots = 100 oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday spread (20 points) | $20 | $20 |
| Weekend spread (40 points) | Market closed | $40 |
| Commission (Standard STP) | $0 | $0 |
On weekdays, the cost of the same exposure is broadly similar. At weekends, XAUUSD247 costs more per trade. That is the price of being able to act while the main market is closed.
Overnight swaps
Both symbols carry an overnight financing charge on positions held through the daily rollover.
- XAUUSD: Swaps apply on weekday nights, with a triple charge on one mid-week night to cover the weekend.
- XAUUSD247: Because the market runs every day, financing applies to positions held through each rollover period. Check the live swap rates in your platform’s contract specification.
Take note: For multi-week holds, swap costs can matter more than the spread. Some traders compare these with a swap-free account, where eligible.
Contract size, leverage and margin
Position sizing
This is where XAUUSD247 is most practical for smaller accounts.
- XAUUSD: The smallest trade is usually 0.01 lot, which equals 1 ounce. Many traders think in full or mini lots, which carry much larger exposure.
- XAUUSD247: One lot is 1 ounce. You can build a position ounce by ounce and size each trade closely to your risk budget, which creates more opportunity to fine-tune risk on small accounts.
Leverage and margin
Leverage lets you control a larger position with a smaller deposit. It magnifies both gains and losses, so read our guide to leverage in forex before choosing a level.
- XAUUSD: Leverage depends on your account type and the regulatory entity you trade under.
- XAUUSD247: Leverage is tiered. The more net lots you hold, the lower the maximum leverage on each additional portion. This structure is designed to keep large weekend exposure in check when liquidity is thinner.
- Hedged positions on XAUUSD247: Single-sided margin means you are only charged margin on the larger side of offsetting buy and sell positions. This can free up capital for traders who hedge their gold exposure.
- Exposure limits: XAUUSD247 has per-login net and gross exposure caps. If you reach either limit, the account switches to Close-Only Mode, where you can reduce or close positions but not add to them.
Reminder: Lower margin per trade does not mean lower risk. A small, highly leveraged position can still move quickly against you. Learn how a margin call works, and check whether negative balance protection applies to your account.
Platform support and strategy compatibility
Platform choice affects how easily you can trade and automate each symbol. Many traders also review XAU/USD on TradingView because its chart is user-friendly and comprehensive, and often connect a broker so they can chart and trade gold-linked instruments from one interface. It also offers real-time data and advanced analysis tools, which helps with gold-analysis accuracy and developing trading ideas with more flexibility across styles.
- XAUUSD is available on MT4, MT5, the mobile app and Web Trading. Almost every gold EA, indicator and community strategy is built for it, so backtesting and sharing ideas are simple; some brokers such as VT Markets also offer access to over 800 CFDs across other asset classes, and FP Markets provides access to over 800 CFDs on its platform, which matters if you want broader platform breadth alongside gold.
- XAUUSD247 is available on MT5, the app and Web Trading. MT4 is not currently supported.
Using EAs on XAUUSD247
If you run automated strategies, keep in mind:
- Symbol name: Your EA may need updating to recognise “XAUUSD247”. Some EAs also rely on chart-based signals, so symbol mapping can affect signal accuracy when you move them to the new symbol.
- Lot size logic: Code written for 100-ounce lots will need adjusting for 1-ounce lots. Otherwise position sizes will be 100 times smaller than intended.
- Session filters: Strategies that assume the market closes on Friday may behave unexpectedly at weekends.
- Backtest data: Because XAUUSD247 is a newer symbol, its price history is shorter. Weekend data in particular may not reflect future conditions. That can also limit testing flexibility and reduce the number of community trading ideas available for the newer symbol.
Which gold traders suit each symbol?
There is no universal winner in the XAUUSD vs XAUUSD247 debate. It comes down to how and when you trade.
XAUUSD may suit you if:
- You day trade or scalp during the London and New York sessions and want the deepest liquidity.
- You use MT4, third-party EAs or copy-trading signals built for standard gold.
- You prefer to close positions before the weekend and avoid weekend exposure altogether.
- You want a long, consistent price history for backtesting.
XAUUSD247 may suit you if:
- You have a smaller account and want to size positions in single ounces.
- You work during the week and prefer to analyse and trade at weekends.
- You hold swing positions and want the option to adjust them when news breaks on a Saturday or Sunday.
- You hedge gold exposure and want to benefit from single-sided margin.
Can you use both?
Yes. Some traders use XAUUSD for weekday execution and XAUUSD247 to manage risk over the weekend. Keep in mind that they are separate symbols. A long position on one and a short position on the other are not automatically netted, and each carries its own margin.
Practical tips for trading gold across both symbols
Whichever symbol you choose, these habits help keep risk under control:
- Know your server time. Convert opening and closing times into your local time zone and set calendar reminders for the weekly open and close.
- Check the economic calendar. Gold reacts strongly to US inflation, jobs data and central banks decisions, and it is often viewed as a safe-haven asset during economic uncertainty. Sentiment can also shift with official gold reserves: the United States holds the largest gold reserves at 8,133 tonnes, or thousands of tonnes more than most countries. Some traders also watch silver alongside gold for a broader read on precious-metals sentiment.
Many investors buy gold as part of investing to diversify portfolios and reduce risk exposure, but CFD trading is different from buy-and-hold exposure through ETFs, stocks, or physical gold. Some also buy coins, bars, or jewelry, then need to store them securely.
- Size down at weekends. If you hold XAUUSD247 positions over Saturday and Sunday, allow for wider spreads and possible slippage.
- Plan for the Monday open. If you hold XAUUSD over the weekend, remember your stop-loss may fill at a gapped price.
- Review contract specs regularly. Spreads, leverage tiers and swap rates can change with market conditions.
- Practise first. Test both symbols on a demo account to see how spreads and fills behave across sessions.
For a deeper look at strategies and analysis, see how to trade gold: a comprehensive guide and our complete guide to precious metal trading.
Frequently asked questions
1. Is XAUUSD247 the same gold price as XAUUSD?
During active weekday sessions, XAUUSD247 closely tracks XAUUSD because both follow the spot gold price in US dollars. At weekends, XAUUSD247 keeps pricing while XAUUSD is closed, so the two may differ slightly when the main market reopens on Monday.
2. What time does XAUUSD open on Monday?
XAUUSD opens at 01:00 server time on Monday. That is 23:00 on Sunday in UK time, and around 06:00 to 07:00 on Monday in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, depending on daylight saving. Always confirm the session in your platform’s contract specification.
3. Is XAUUSD247 more volatile than XAUUSD?
The underlying gold price is the same, so the overall volatility is similar. The difference is timing and cost. XAUUSD247 lets weekend news move the price gradually, with wider spreads. XAUUSD absorbs the same news as a single gap at the Monday open.
4. Can I trade XAUUSD247 on MT4?
Not currently. XAUUSD247 is available on MetaTrader 5, the mobile app and Web Trading. Standard XAUUSD remains available on MT4, MT5, the app and web.
Start trading gold with VT Markets today
If you are ready to put your understanding of XAUUSD and XAUUSD247 to work in live markets, VT Markets provides access to tools and platforms to help you get started. Trade standard gold on MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or trade both XAUUSD and XAUUSD247 on MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Both platforms are built for speed and reliability, which matters when gold moves fast on a data release or a weekend headline.
New to gold trading? Practise risk-free with a free demo account before committing to a live account. It’s an ideal way to compare weekday and weekend spreads, test position sizes and get comfortable with server-time sessions without risking your own money.
Open your live account with VT Markets today and access secure, transparent and competitive CFD trading on gold and many of the world’s most popular markets.
