This is a series of blog posts provided by Canada Gold to educate our customers on the fundamentals of gold buying and selling.
To see earlier posts in this series:
- How is Gold Priced?
- Spot Price vs Buy Price: Why They’re Different
- Who is Troy and What Does He Have to Do with an Ounce of Gold?
One of the most common questions we hear from customers our is:
“Why did the price change while I was waiting in line?” or “Do gold prices stay the same all day?”
The short answer is no. Gold prices can change throughout the day, and even throughout the night.
That is because gold is traded on markets around the world, almost 24 hours a day during the business week. Understanding when those markets are open can help explain why prices move and why timing sometimes matters when buying or selling precious metals.
Let’s walk through how it works.
Gold Is Traded Around the World
Gold is not priced by a single country or company. It is traded internationally on large financial markets, just like currencies or stocks.
Some of the major trading centres include:
- London
- New York
- Toronto
- Zurich
- Hong Kong
- Shanghai
- Sydney
As one market closes, another one opens. This creates a nearly continuous cycle of trading across different time zones.
That is why gold prices can change at different times of the day, even when local stores are closed.
When Do Gold Markets Open and Close?
Gold trading generally follows the global business week, starting late Sunday evening and continuing until Friday afternoon.
Here is a simple way to think about the schedule in Eastern Time, which is helpful for customers in Canada.
Sunday
Trading typically begins around 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Monday to Thursday
Markets are active almost continuously, day and night
Friday
Trading usually slows and closes around 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Saturday
Markets are closed
During the business week, there are short daily pauses when markets reset systems and prepare for the next trading session. These breaks are usually brief and often happen late in the afternoon or early evening.
Why Prices Can Change During the Day
Gold prices move based on supply and demand. When more people are buying or selling gold, the price can shift.
Common reasons prices change include:
- global economic news
- interest rate announcements
- inflation reports
- currency movements
- geopolitical events
- investor demand
Sometimes prices move gradually. Other times they can change quickly, especially during major financial news or market uncertainty.
This is normal and expected in a global market.
When Prices Are Most Active
While gold trades nearly around the clock, some times of day tend to be busier than others.
The most active periods usually occur when major financial centres overlap, particularly:
Morning in North America
This is when New York markets are open and trading volume is high.
Early morning in Europe
London is one of the largest gold trading hubs in the world.
When these markets are active at the same time, there is typically more buying and selling, which can lead to more noticeable price movement.
Why Prices Sometimes Change Between Visits
Customers occasionally notice that the price they saw yesterday is different today, or even different later the same day.
This can feel surprising, especially if the change happens quickly.
The reason is simple. Gold prices are based on live international markets, not fixed daily rates. As those markets move, prices update to reflect the current value of gold.
At Canada Gold, our pricing is tied directly to live market data. That helps ensure customers receive fair, transparent pricing that reflects real market conditions.
Do Prices Change on Weekends?
In most cases, gold prices remain steady over the weekend because major trading markets are closed.
However, markets reopen on Sunday evening, and prices may adjust at that time based on global news or events that occurred while trading was paused.
This is why customers sometimes notice a price difference between Friday and Monday.
What is My Gold Worth Right Now?
You can check our live pricing at any time on the Canada Gold website.
You can also engage with our AI chat to get an idea of what we are currently paying for different items, including jewellery, coins and scrap gold.
Our pricing reflects the live global market and updates throughout the day as market conditions change.
All final offers are subject to in-store testing, verification of purity and weight, and current market updates at the time of your visit.
If you ever have questions, our team is always happy to walk you through the process and explain exactly how your items are evaluated.