What do the colors and “Last updated” timestamp of commodity heatmap tell me during the trading day?

What do the colors and “Last updated” timestamp of commodity heatmap tell me during the trading day?

The Commodity heatmap uses color-coded tiles and a “Last updated” timestamp to help you quickly understand market movement and data freshness during MCX trading hours.

These visual cues allow you to assess momentum and confirm whether the data reflects the most recent price activity.

What the tile colors indicate

Each tile represents a nearest-month commodity futures contract. The color of the tile is based on the percentage change (%) for the selected timeframe (1 min to 1D).

  • Green: The contract is trading higher for the selected timeframe.
  • Red: The contract is trading lower for the selected timeframe.
  • Neutral/Grey: No net percentage change during the selected timeframe.

The intensity of the color may vary depending on the magnitude of the percentage move, helping you quickly identify stronger movers.

Why colors matter during live trading

  • Instant scanning: Quickly identify top gainers and losers across metals, energy, and agri contracts.
  • Momentum comparison: Compare standard and mini variants side-by-side.
  • Timeframe validation: Switch between 1 min, 15 mins, 60 mins, and 1D to see whether strength or weakness is sustained.

What the “Last updated” timestamp means

The “Last updated” label shows the most recent time the heatmap data was refreshed.

  • The heatmap auto-refreshes approximately every 60 seconds.
  • You can manually refresh using the refresh icon if needed.
  • The timestamp confirms that you are viewing the latest available market data.
Important: Commodity trading hours on MCX are typically from 9:00 AM to 11:55 PM. Outside these hours, the heatmap will display the last available updated values.

What If…

ScenarioOutcome
The timestamp has not changed for some timeThe market may be closed, or there may be no new price updates during that period. You can manually refresh to confirm.
All tiles appear neutralThere may be minimal movement in the selected timeframe, or trading may be inactive for that moment.
Colors change after switching timeframeEach timeframe recalculates percentage change differently, so tile colors will adjust based on the selected look-back period.

Last updated: 19 Feb 2026