MetaQuotes-Demo XAUUSD rollover time / server timezone / DST clarification

[Vendel Bjelde]

I need an authoritative clarification for technical validation of MetaQuotes-Demo XAUUSD.

Environment:

• Company: MetaQuotes Ltd.
• Server: MetaQuotes-Demo
• Account: USD-denominated DEMO
• Symbol: XAUUSD
• MT5 build: 6151

Our captured XAUUSD specification confirms:

• Swap mode: points
• Swap long: -12.6
• Swap short: -4.6
• Triple-swap weekday: Wednesday
• Weekday multipliers: Sun 0, Mon 1, Tue 1, Wed 3, Thu 1, Fri 1, Sat 0
• Regular quote/trade sessions observed Monday-Friday: 00:00-23:00

I need to know the current authoritative rollover and server-time rules applicable to this MetaQuotes-Demo environment.

Specifically:

1. What is the exact daily swap-liability cutoff for XAUUSD?
2. What clock basis is that cutoff defined in: MetaQuotes-Demo server time, UTC, or another basis?
3. Is a position held exactly at the cutoff considered liable for swap?
4. Is swap posted at the same time as the liability cutoff, or can posting occur later?
5. What is the current MetaQuotes-Demo server timezone / UTC-offset policy?
6. Does the server observe DST? If yes, what exact transition rule and dates/times apply in 2026?
7. Does the rollover boundary therefore move in UTC when DST changes?
8. How do weekends, holidays, early closes and shortened sessions affect the liability cutoff?
9. At what exact boundary is the configured Wednesday ×3 swap multiplier applied?

Historical MetaQuotes staff statements described MetaQuotes-Demo as UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 in summer. Please confirm whether that remains the current policy and identify the governing transition calendar.

For validation purposes, I specifically need either a response from MetaQuotes staff/admin or a first-party MetaQuotes reference/configuration source. I do not want to infer rollover time from the visible 00:00-23:00 trading sessions.

[Michael Charles Schefe]

Vendel Bjelde:

Always use a brokers mt4/5. the metaquotes demo should not be used for trading; only for testing of the program. In the past the quotes provider has been known to be "down" for weeks; therefore it might be unreliable.

[Ryan L Johnson]

Vendel Bjelde:
Historical MetaQuotes staff statements described MetaQuotes-Demo as UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 in summer. Please confirm whether that remains the current policy and identify the governing transition calendar.

MQ Demo server time is always 7 hours ahead of me because my local time also observes DST (as does MQ Demo server time).

It's best to convert among time zones based on GMT (no DST observed─a "constant" reference point, if you will).

[Ryan L Johnson]

Forum on trading, automated trading systems and testing trading strategies

MetaQuotes-Demo XAUUSD commission clarification — SymbolInfoCommissions returns 0

Ryan L Johnson, 2026.09.04 17:33

The MQ Demo account is not for the purpose of verifying nor testing of high resolution tick, spread, swap, nor commission data; nor for the purpose of simulating live trading. To answer your specific question, no, there are no commissions in the MQ Demo account.

I do however, use the MQ Beta terminal and the MQ Demo account to test general code functionality and to stay ahead of the MT5 Release version curve, so to speak.

This is fairly common knowledge here in the Forum.