Trading hours
Copper CFDs typically trade from 23:00 UK on Sunday to 22:00 UK on Friday with a daily break from 22:00 to 23:00 UK; LMEselect runs 01:00 to 19:00 UK.
| When | UK time | New York time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly open | Sunday 23:00 | Sunday 18:00 ET | CME Globex futures and most CFDs open Sunday evening New York time. Times follow your broker's server clock. |
| Daily break | 22:00 to 23:00 | 17:00 to 18:00 ET | Typically one hour, Monday to Thursday. |
| Friday close | 22:00 | 17:00 ET | Some brokers stop a few minutes earlier on Friday. |
| Busiest hours | 01:30 to 03:30 and 13:30 to 17:00 | 20:30 to 22:30 and 08:30 to 12:00 ET | Typically the Chinese morning, then US data and the New York morning. |
| LMEselect electronic market | 01:00 to 19:00 | 20:00 to 14:00 ET | The London Metal Exchange's screen market, on UK time all year. |
New York changes its clocks on different dates from the UK (in 2026 the UK changed on 25 October and the US on 1 November; in 2027 the US changes on 14 March and the UK on 28 March). In those gap weeks New York is 4 hours behind London instead of 5, so every UK time on this page that is set by New York comes an hour earlier. Broker server clocks usually follow New York, so times on your platform can look different in those weeks even though the market has not moved. LME hours are set in London time, so they do not move for UK readers.
What is Copper (XCUUSD)?
Copper is the most widely used industrial metal: power grids, buildings, electric cars, wind and solar all need it. Because demand rises and falls with building and factory activity, traders watch it as a read on the world economy. China is by far the largest buyer.
The main markets are the London Metal Exchange, priced in dollars per tonne, COMEX in New York, priced in dollars per pound, and the Shanghai Futures Exchange. Copper CFDs at most brokers follow COMEX futures, so check which one your broker uses, as the price units differ.
The trading sessions
Chinese buyers and Shanghai futures make this an active session for copper, unlike most metals.
LME trading picks up; European data can move it.
Typically the most active window for COMEX copper.
Thinner trade after LME activity fades.
Contract facts
COMEX copper is quoted in US dollars per pound, usually to 4 decimals (for example 4.5000). LME copper is quoted in US dollars per tonne.
Lot sizes and units differ between brokers. Check the contract specification in your platform, including whether the price is per pound or per tonne.
On one COMEX copper futures contract (25,000 pounds), a 0.0005 move is worth 12.50 dollars and a 0.01 move is worth 250 dollars.
COMEX copper futures (HG): typically 25,000 pounds, minimum move 0.0005 dollars per pound (12.50 dollars). LME copper: 25 tonnes per lot.
How far it usually moves
Varies with conditions; check the Average daily range indicator on WickSpeak for the current figure. We do not publish a fixed number because we could not verify one from an official source.
What moves Copper (XCUUSD)
China is by far the largest buyer, so its property, grid and factory news moves the price.
Factory surveys and growth data in the US, Europe and China shape demand expectations.
Strikes, accidents and output news from big mines, notably in Chile, Peru and Congo, can tighten supply.
Falling stocks in LME, COMEX and Shanghai warehouses can signal a tight market.
US tariff decisions on copper have at times opened large gaps between COMEX and LME prices.
A weaker dollar tends to support metals priced in dollars.
Scheduled events to watch
China is the largest buyer of industrial metals, so its factory survey matters.
Shows Chinese imports of copper ore and refined copper.
Industrial output and property investment figures drive demand expectations.
A read on US factory demand, a large user of industrial metals.
Eight scheduled meetings a year; the decision and the tone of the press conference reset US rate expectations.
Hotter or cooler inflation changes what traders expect from US interest rates, which moves every risk market.
What it tends to move with
Both lean on Chinese demand and global growth; the link is loose.
Strong Chinese data can lift copper and Chinese shares together.
Tends to rise with risk appetite and fall on growth scares.
Tips for trading Copper (XCUUSD)
Do not ignore Asia
Copper often moves in the Chinese morning. Mark the 01:00 to 07:00 UK range; a 15 minute close outside it after 08:00 UK is a breakout idea, and a close back inside proves it wrong.
Check Chinese data
On PMI days a long idea needs copper to hold above the pre-release price. A 15 minute close below it proves the idea wrong.
Know your price unit
COMEX and LME copper are priced per pound and per tonne. Set stops from your broker's chart, beyond structure; a close beyond the swing proves the trade wrong.
Watch the dollar
A copper long is stronger when the dollar is weakening. If the dollar index breaks sharply higher, reconsider; a close below your entry candle's low proves it wrong.
Connect a cTrader account once and copper appears on WickSpeak at your broker's own prices. Key levels show the previous day, week and month highs and lows, pivots, round numbers and average daily range levels with their distance in points. Every indicator writes a plain-English reading on the live candle, including what would prove it wrong, and a Playbook play can alert you, draw a trade plan, paper trade or, only on a play where you switched live trading on, place a trade inside the guardrails you set.
Related markets
Sources: lme.com, help.metrotrade.com, pepperstone.com, stats.gov.cn, ismworld.org. Checked 2026-11-05. Broker hours follow your broker's server clock and can differ.
Questions traders ask
What are copper trading hours in the UK?
Copper CFDs typically trade from 23:00 UK on Sunday to 22:00 UK on Friday, with a daily break from 22:00 to 23:00 UK, following COMEX futures. LME electronic trading runs from 01:00 to 19:00 UK.
What is the difference between COMEX and LME copper?
COMEX copper trades in New York in US dollars per pound, with 25,000 pounds per contract. LME copper trades in London in US dollars per tonne, with 25 tonnes per lot. Tariffs and local supply can make their prices differ.
Why is copper called Dr Copper?
Because it is used in so much building and industry, its price tends to rise when the world economy is strong and fall when it weakens. Traders treat it as a rough read on economic health, not a forecast.
What is the best time to trade copper?
Typically the Chinese morning, about 01:30 to 03:30 UK in winter, and 13:30 to 17:00 UK when London and New York overlap.
How much is a COMEX copper contract worth per move?
One COMEX copper contract is 25,000 pounds, so a 0.0005 move is worth 12.50 dollars and a 0.01 move is worth 250 dollars. CFD sizes depend on your broker.