A big change is coming for investors who trade in the commodity market. Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) has announced new trading hours that will start from March 9, 2026.
This decision has been taken because of changes in US Daylight Saving Time. The new schedule will mainly affect traders dealing in commodities like gold, silver, crude oil, and cotton.
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Why MCX Has Changed Trading Hours
MCX, which is India’s largest commodity exchange, issued a circular announcing the revised timings. The change has been made due to the shift in US Daylight Saving Time.
During Daylight Saving Time, the time in the US moves forward by one hour. This changes the time difference between India and the US.
Since international commodity markets, especially in the US and Europe, are active during late Indian hours, MCX has adjusted its trading schedule to better match global market timings.
This will help Indian investors respond more accurately to international price movements.
New Trading Hours for Non-Agricultural Commodities
From March 9, 2026, trading in non-agricultural commodities such as gold, silver, crude oil, and base metals will:
Start at 9:00 am
Continue until 11:30 pm
Client code modification will be allowed from:
9:00 am to 11:45 pm
This means investors can now trade and manage their positions late into the night. This change will mostly impact traders dealing in globally influenced commodities like gold, silver, and crude oil.
New Trading Hours for Agricultural Commodities
The trading hours for agricultural commodities will be as follows:
Selected Agricultural Commodities
Commodities like cotton and cotton oil will trade from:
9:00 am to 9:00 pm
Client code modification will be allowed until:
9:15 pm
Other Agricultural Commodities
All other agricultural commodities will trade from:
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Client code modification will be permitted until:
5:15 pm
Impact on Investors and Brokers
This change is especially important for investors who trade based on international market trends. Since US and European markets are active at night (Indian time), extended trading hours will help Indian traders align better with global price movements.
Commodity traders and brokerage firms will also need to update their systems and operations to adjust to the new timings.
MCX has advised all members and investors to take note of the revised schedule and plan their trading strategies accordingly.