MCX Trading Hours Adjusted for US Daylight Saving Time

The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) has recently announced an update in its trading hours, aligning with adjustments in US daylight saving time. This move is expected to impact traders and market participants dealing in commodity derivatives. MCX, which has been operational since November 2003, serves as a major platform for online commodity derivatives trading in India. Over the years, it has played a pivotal role in facilitating price discovery and risk management across various commodities, including metals, energy, and agricultural products.

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Currently, MCX follows a structured trading schedule from Monday to Friday, beginning at 9:00 AM and extending until 11:30 PM. However, during the daylight saving period, which generally spans from November to March, trading hours are extended until 11:55 PM. Agricultural commodities, on the other hand, are available for futures trading only until 5:00 PM. With the revised schedule coming into effect on March 10, 2025, the trading hours will be modified to ensure better alignment with international markets. Non-agricultural commodities will continue trading from 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM, with client code modifications allowed until 11:45 PM. Selected agricultural commodities, including cotton, cotton oil, and kapas, will be tradable until 9:00 PM, while all other agricultural commodities will remain available for trading until 5:00 PM.

In addition to these changes, MCX has also announced the list of trading holidays for 2025, with 15 non-trading days scheduled due to various national and religious observances. These include major festivals such as Holi, Diwali, Eid, and Christmas, along with significant national holidays like Independence Day and Maharashtra Day.

On the financial front, MCX reported strong results for the third quarter of FY 2025. The total income for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, stood at ₹324 crore, showing an increase from ₹311 crore in the previous quarter. The operating income witnessed growth, reaching ₹301 crore from ₹286 crore sequentially. The exchange also recorded an EBITDA of ₹216 crore, reflecting an improvement from ₹205 crore in the previous quarter. This resulted in an EBITDA margin of 67%, while the PAT margin stood at 49%. The financial performance highlights the growing trading volumes and increasing participation in commodity derivatives trading.

The revision in trading hours is expected to enhance efficiency, ensuring traders can operate with greater flexibility while aligning with international markets. By extending trading hours in line with global benchmarks, MCX aims to improve liquidity and price discovery, particularly for non-agricultural commodities, which are heavily influenced by international market movements. Traders dealing in commodities such as crude oil, gold, and base metals will benefit from better synchronization with global exchanges.