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ICT Kill Zones: Best Time Windows for XAUUSD

ICT Kill Zones: Best Time Windows for XAUUSD

Educational only. Not financial advice.

Kill Zones are time windows with peak liquidity. For Gold (XAUUSD), ICT focuses on the London and New York sessions, when volatility and institutional participation are highest.

Why Timing Matters

  • Large moves cluster around session opens.
  • Liquidity grabs are common at these times.
  • Cleaner trends and follow-through after the open.

IST Reference (India Time)

  • London Kill Zone: ~11:30 AM – 2:30 PM IST
  • New York Kill Zone: ~6:30 PM – 9:30 PM IST

(Adjust for DST where applicable.)

How to Trade Kill Zones

  1. Establish HTF bias (D1/H4).
  2. Before the window, mark Asian range highs/lows.
  3. Watch for liquidity sweeps at the start of the Kill Zone.
  4. Enter on M5/M1 confirmation (BOS/CHOCH, OB, or FVG confluence).

Chart Example: London vs New York Windows

ICT London and New York Kill Zones highlighted on XAUUSD

The yellow band shows London Kill Zone; cyan marks New York. Notice how price forms setups near the session opens and expands afterward.

Checklist

  • Trade only in session windows.
  • Wait for liquidity events (stop hunts) + confirmation.
  • Protect wins; Gold can reverse sharply post-move.

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