A major change is coming for investors who trade in the commodity market. The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) has announced new trading hours that will start from March 9, 2026.
After this change, trading in non-agricultural commodities will continue late into the night. This decision has been taken because of changes in US Daylight Saving Time, which affects international commodity markets and India.
The new timings will mainly impact investors trading commodities such as gold, silver, crude oil, and base metals.
New Trading Timings for Non-Agricultural Commodities
According to an MCX circular, trading in non-agricultural commodities (gold, silver, crude oil, and base metals) will follow these timings:
Trading hours: 9:00 am to 11:30 pm
Client code modification: 9:00 am to 11:45 pm
This means investors can now trade and manage their positions late into the night.
Trading Hours for Agricultural Commodities
MCX has set different timings for agricultural commodities:
Select agricultural commodities (cotton, cotton oil, etc.)
Trading: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
Client code modification: till 9:15 pm
Other agricultural commodities
Trading: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Client code modification: till 5:15 pm
Why This Change Matters for Investors
This change is especially important for investors who follow global commodity markets. Markets in the US and Europe are active at night in India.
By extending trading hours, MCX allows Indian investors to better match international market movements.
During Daylight Saving Time, the US moves clocks forward by one hour. This changes the time gap between India and the US. Because global prices of gold, silver,
and crude oil are influenced by international markets, MCX had to revise its trading hours so that Indian prices reflect global movements correctly.
Impact on Traders and Brokerage Firms
The new timings will mostly affect traders dealing in globally linked commodities such as gold, silver, and crude oil. Investors will now be able to trade late at night and make better decisions based on international prices.
This change is also important for commodity traders and brokerage firms. They will need to update their systems and operations according to the new schedule.
MCX has advised all members and investors to note the new timings and adjust their trading strategies.
