COMEX Futures Trading Hours: A Complete Guide for Global Traders

If you trade gold, silver, or copper futures, you've probably found yourself checking the clock at odd hours, wondering whether COMEX is open or in one of its brief daily pauses. The Commodity Exchange (COMEX), part of the CME Group, operates on a schedule that spans nearly 23 hours a day, but that doesn't mean it's always the right time to trade. Understanding the rhythm of COMEX futures trading hours can mean the difference between catching a clean breakout and getting stuck in a low-liquidity lull.

What Is COMEX and Why Its Hours Matter

COMEX is the primary futures and options exchange for metals trading in the United States. It handles contracts for gold, silver, copper, aluminum, and other industrial and precious metals. While it has a physical trading floor history, virtually all modern COMEX trading happens electronically through the CME Globex platform.

For traders around the world, the COMEX exchange hours define when you can enter or exit positions. Unlike equity markets with fixed opening and closing bells, COMEX operates on a nearly continuous basis during the workweek, which creates both opportunities and challenges.

COMEX Exchange Hours: The Standard Schedule

The regular COMEX trading schedule runs from Sunday through Friday, beginning at 6:00 PM Eastern Time and ending at 5:00 PM Eastern Time the following day. This means that when you look at the COMEX market close time, it's essentially a rolling window that resets each afternoon.

There's one important exception: a daily maintenance break from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM ET. During this hour, orders may not execute, and the market essentially pauses before reopening for the next session.

So when someone asks about the COMEX opening time, the answer depends on context. The weekly session opens Sunday at 6:00 PM ET. Each subsequent day, trading resumes at 6:00 PM ET after the brief maintenance window.

COMEX Closing Time: What Traders Need to Know

The COMEX market close time for the week is Friday at 5:00 PM ET. For daily sessions, the close occurs at 5:00 PM ET before the one-hour break.

This schedule is significantly different from traditional stock exchanges, which typically operate from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET. The extended hours mean that COMEX futures trading hours overlap with major market sessions in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, giving traders flexibility to participate whenever their schedule allows.

However, not all hours are equally active. The most liquid periods tend to align with the U.S. trading day, particularly when London and New York sessions overlap. Trading during the overnight hours (for U.S. traders) often sees thinner volume and wider spreads.

Regional Trading Sessions Within COMEX Hours

While COMEX runs nearly around the clock, different regional sessions bring different characteristics:

Asian Session (Evening ET): When COMEX opens Sunday evening, it's already Monday morning in Asia. Traders in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Singapore are active, often responding to weekend news and setting the initial tone for the week.

European Session (Early Morning ET): As London comes online, volume typically increases. European traders bring fresh perspective and often react to overnight developments.

U.S. Session (Morning to Afternoon ET): This is the peak period for COMEX futures trading hours. U.S. economic data releases, Federal Reserve announcements, and the traditional pit trading hours (though now electronic) all contribute to heightened activity.

Late U.S. to Asian Transition: As the U.S. day winds down, the market transitions back toward Asian participants. This period can see reduced liquidity, especially in the hour before the daily break.

Holiday Schedules and Early Closes

The standard COMEX exchange hours don't apply on market holidays. The exchange observes major U.S. holidays including New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

On some of these holidays, COMEX is fully closed. On others—particularly the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve—the exchange closes early at 1:00 PM ET. These early closes can catch traders off guard if they're not paying attention to the calendar.

The day after Thanksgiving is a notable example. While many markets have abbreviated hours, COMEX often sees particularly light volume as U.S. traders extend their holiday weekend. Similarly, the period between Christmas and New Year's can have irregular hours and reduced liquidity.

How COMEX Hours Compare to Other Metal Markets

COMEX isn't the only place to trade metals. The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) oversees the London market, which historically set the global benchmark for gold and silver pricing. The Shanghai Futures Exchange handles significant volume in Asian hours.

For traders using MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 platforms, accessing COMEX-related instruments typically happens through a broker's CFD or futures offering. The underlying exchange hours determine when your broker can execute orders, though some brokers may impose their own restrictions or maintain different schedules.

This is where having a quick way to monitor positions becomes valuable. If you're trading during COMEX futures trading hours but can't stay glued to your screen, knowing your exposure at a glance matters.

Staying Informed Without Staying Glued to Your Screen

The reality of COMEX trading is that the most important price movements don't always happen when you're watching. A position opened during the U.S. session might need attention during the Asian session, or a stop-loss might trigger during a period of overnight volatility.

For traders who use MetaTrader platforms, there's a practical challenge: MT5 and MT4 are powerful but require having the terminal open and visible. If you're working, in a meeting, or simply want to reduce screen time, checking positions means interrupting whatever else you're doing.

Tools like Camovia Tray address this by turning MT5 or MT4 into a system tray utility. Instead of opening the full terminal, you can hover over the tray icon to see live quotes for your watchlist. When you need to check open positions—perhaps during a COMEX session transition or after a holiday—the floating panel shows your positions with entry price, current P&L, and one-click close functionality.

The data stays local on your computer, read directly from your terminal. For traders who monitor COMEX-related instruments through their broker's MT5/MT4 setup, this means quick position checks without the full terminal footprint.

Practical Tips for Trading COMEX Hours

Know your time zone conversions. COMEX times are quoted in Eastern Time. If you're in Asia, Europe, or another region, set up a conversion reference. The 6:00 PM ET open is 22:00 UTC during U.S. daylight saving time and 23:00 UTC during standard time.

Avoid the maintenance window. The 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM ET break is not a trading opportunity. Orders won't execute, and any positions you hold carry risk through the gap.

Watch for holiday adjustments. CME Group publishes holiday schedules in advance. Check these before major U.S. holidays, especially if you hold positions through the close.

Consider liquidity patterns. Not all COMEX hours are equal. The most active periods typically align with U.S. and European market overlaps. If you're trading during Asian hours, expect different spread and volatility characteristics.

Plan for early closes. When COMEX closes early at 1:00 PM ET, the afternoon session simply doesn't exist. Adjust your strategy accordingly.

Understanding the COMEX Market Close Time in Context

The COMEX closing time of 5:00 PM ET Friday marks the end of the trading week. Between that close and the Sunday 6:00 PM ET reopen, the market is closed. Weekend news, geopolitical events, and economic data from other regions can all influence prices when trading resumes.

For position traders holding through the weekend, this gap represents risk. For day traders, it's simply the end of the cycle.

Understanding COMEX exchange hours isn't just about knowing when you can trade—it's about understanding when the market is most liquid, when spreads are tightest, and when you should be most attentive to your positions.

Whether you're trading gold futures during the U.S. session or checking silver positions during Asian hours, having efficient tools to monitor your exposure makes the extended COMEX schedule more manageable. The key is finding a workflow that keeps you informed without requiring constant screen time.