All XAU (gold) orders feature a risk management measure designed to protect positions from possible high volatility after the scheduled daily trading break; sudden market movements and loss of capital is often observed during this time of the day.
As such, all XAU orders placed within 30 minutes of the daily break are subject to increased margin requirements, with leverage restricted to 1:1000 or less.
The high margin requirement periods for XAU are scheduled as:
- 20:29 to 20:59 GMT in Summer
- 21:29 to 21:59 GMT in Winter
| Season | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Summer: | Second Sunday in March | First Sunday in November |
| Winter: | First Sunday in November | Second Sunday in March |
These scheduled periods are due to the daily trading break in Summer happening at 21:00 to 22:00 GMT and in Winter happening at 22:00 to 23:00 GMT.
Take a look at our article on Forex Trading Hours for a more detailed look at daily trading break schedules, or visit our trading instruments page for more contract specifications.