Foreign exchange, or forex, is a global decentralized market where traders buy and sell currencies. The forex market is open 24 hours a day, five days a week. Knowing the schedule of the world’s major trading sessions can help you time your trades appropriately. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about forex market hours.
Overview of Forex Market Hours
The forex market operates around the clock, but trading volumes fluctuate based on the time of day. Here is an overview of the four major forex trading sessions:
- Sydney Session: The Sydney session opens at 5:00 pm EST and runs through 4:00 am EST. This session accounts for approximately 7% of total forex turnover.
- Tokyo Session: The Tokyo session starts at 7:00 pm EST and closes at 4:00 am EST. It accounts for 17% of forex transactions.
- London Session: The London session starts at 3:00 am EST and ends at noon EST. With over 30% of forex turnover, this session has the highest volume.
- New York Session: The New York session runs from 8:00 am EST to 5:00 pm EST and represents over half of all forex trading volume globally.
These four sessions overlap throughout the week, providing 24-hour currency trading. The busiest times occur when major markets overlap, such as London and New York.
Forex Market Hours by Time Zone
Here are the schedules for the top forex trading centers worldwide:
Sydney, Australia
Open: 5:00 pm to 2:00 am EST
Peak Activity: 5:00 pm to 12:00 am EST
Sydney sees high trading volume when Japanese and European markets are active. Watch for movements in the AUD and NZD.
Tokyo, Japan
Open: 7:00 pm to 4:00 am EST
Peak Activity: 8:00 pm to 3:00 am EST
Tokyo trading heats up when Sydney and London are open. Look for volatility in JPY pairs like the USD/JPY.
London, United Kingdom
Open: 3:00 am to noon EST
Peak Activity: 5:00 am to 9:00 am EST
London is the largest forex market. Movements in GBP and EUR pairs dominate trading here.
New York, United States
Open: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST
Peak Activity: 8:00 am to noon EST
As the world’s financial capital, New York has high liquidity. Watch for USD volatility against other major currencies.
Forex Market Sessions Explained
Now let’s take a closer look at what makes each trading session unique:
The Sydney Session
The Sydney session starts on Sunday at 5:00 pm EST when Asian markets open for the week. Trading volume is relatively light, with many large markets like Japan still closed.
Once Tokyo opens at 7:00 pm EST, trading picks up. Still, liquidity remains lower than during other sessions until London enters the mix around 3:00 am EST.
The Aussie dollar (AUD) and New Zealand dollar (NZD) are most active during this time. Traders watch for news affecting the Asia-Pacific region that could cause volatility.
The Tokyo Session
The Tokyo session runs from 7:00 pm to 4:00 am EST, overlapping with both Sydney and London. This overlap provides added liquidity for yen pairs like the USD/JPY.
As Asia’s largest financial hub, Tokyo is influential on Asian and global markets. The Bank of Japan also frequently conducts monetary policy changes during this session.
With Sydney still online, trading volumes increase significantly. Once London opens, volatility spikes even higher.
The London Session
Lasting from 3:00 am to noon EST, the London session has the highest forex turnover worldwide. It overlaps with both Asian and North American markets, offering peak liquidity.
The British pound (GBP) is most active during London hours. But with Europe’s major financial center online, euro (EUR) pairs also see high volatility.
Look for breakout moves on news events during the first few hours of London trading, as well as increased volatility when New York joins.
The New York Session
New York trading lasts from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST and has the second highest trading volume after London. With North American markets in full swing, the US dollar and Canadian dollar are most active.
Once London closes at noon EST, volatility can drop off. But if any big news emerges, expect renewed movements in dollar pairs and major crosses like the EUR/USD.
Activity spikes once more when London reopens at 7:00 am EST. Both New York and London markets overlap until noon, creating ideal trading conditions.
The Forex Market Sessions At a Glance
Here is a summary of each session’s trading hours in Eastern Standard Time:
- Sydney: 5:00 pm to 2:00 am
- Tokyo: 7:00 pm to 4:00 am
- London: 3:00 am to noon
- New York: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
And the peak trading hours when volume and volatility are highest:
- Sydney: 5:00 pm to 12:00 am
- Tokyo: 8:00 pm to 3:00 am
- London: 5:00 am to 9:00 am
- New York: 8:00 am to noon
Use this timeline to spot opportune times to trade based on your schedule. The most active pairs to watch include:
- AUD/USD, NZD/USD during Sydney
- USD/JPY, EUR/JPY during Tokyo
- GBP/USD, EUR/USD during London
- USD/CAD during New York
Next, let’s look at the best times to trade each day and potential strategies.
The Best Times to Trade the Forex Market
While you can trade at any time, volatility is highest when major markets overlap. Here are some guidelines for the best times to trade forex:
- Sunday: The Sydney session opens at 5:00 pm EST. Light trading continues through the Asian/Pacific and into London on Monday morning.
- Monday morning: Trading heats up when London opens at 3:00 am EST. Watch for breakout moves at the start of the week.
- Tuesday to Thursday: The highest trading volume occurs when London and New York sessions overlap from about 8:00 am to noon EST.
- Friday morning: Volatility remains elevated with London and New York online simultaneously. Friday closes can trigger volatility.
- Friday evening: Trading slows down after New York closes at 5:00 pm EST. Volume remains light over the weekend.
Within these guidelines, refine your trading sessions based on your own schedule and style. Day traders may focus on the London/New York overlap, while swing traders check hourly charts during the Asian sessions.
How News Impacts Market Hours
Scheduled news events tend to have a greater impact during the session they occur in. Here are some examples:
- Interest rate decisions from the Bank of Japan move the yen strongly during the Tokyo or London session.
- UK news events like GDP or retail sales numbers significantly impact the pound when released at the start of London trading.
- Canadian and US reports like employment data affect USD/CAD more noticeably during active New York hours.
Even when major markets are closed, assets tend to react strongly at the open after impactful weekend news. Always check economic calendars for upcoming events.
Forex Market Hours and Days
Here is a breakdown of the forex market schedule to note:
- Opens Sunday at 5:00 pm EST when Sydney starts trading
- Runs continuously through Friday at 5:00 pm EST when New York closes
- Closes from Friday at 5:00 pm EST through Sunday at 5:00 pm EST
- Holidays and observances may close certain markets like Christmas or New Year’s Day
Major markets like London and New York trade Monday through Friday. But since forex is a 24-hour market, you can trade from Sunday afternoon through Friday night based on your own schedule.
Forex Trading Session Strategies
Now that you know the schedules, here are some potential strategies for each major session:
- Sydney: Trade the breakout at Sunday open looking for gaps up or down. Go long or short during the week from 5:00 to 11:00 pm.
- Tokyo: Fade the Sunday open gap at the Tokyo open if it looks overextended. Trade the crossover between Tokyo and London sessions watching the USD/JPY.
- London: Enter breakout moves in the first 1-2 hours. Or trade the London fix around 11:00 am going with benchmarks like Germany 30.
- New York: Trade economic news reports at 8:30 am and 10:00 am for volatility. Ride the trend as London hands off to New York from 8:00 am to noon.
- Multiple Sessions: Use the London/New York overlap to go long or short. Or trade sessions like Sydney and Tokyo that are moving in opposite directions.
Adjust your strategies based on changing market conditions and your own experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about forex market hours:
1. What time does the forex market open on Sunday?
The forex market opens every Sunday at 5:00 pm EST when the Sydney session starts trading.
2. What is the best session to trade for beginners?
The London session is ideal for beginners thanks to high liquidity and volatility. Focus on the first 2 hours after the open from 3:00 to 5:00 am EST.
3. What is the difference between the Tokyo and London sessions?
Tokyo trading focuses more on Asian-centric currency pairs like USD/JPY. London has the highest overall volume and moves the broader market with pairs like EUR/USD.
4. When is the forex market most volatile?
Peak volatility occurs when London and New York sessions overlap from about 8:00 am to noon EST during the week. Sunday and Friday evenings tend to be most quiet.
5. Should I trade forex at night?
Sydney, Tokyo, and London sessions run in part overnight for North American time zones. Trading at night provides opportunities, but requires staying up late.
6. Which currency pairs are most impacted by New York hours?
The New York session heavily influences USD crosses like EUR/USD and GBP/USD, along with USD/CAD due to Canadian trading.
The Key Benefits of Tracking Forex Market Hours
In summary, here are the key reasons to track forex market hours:
- Identify times of day with optimal liquidity and volatility.
- Schedule your trading sessions around active markets.
- Take advantage of news events impacting specific currencies.
- Know when to reduce risk as major markets begin closing.
- Understand how sessions interact and impact different currency pairs.
- Adapt your strategies as trading behavior changes between sessions.
Knowing the forex market schedule enables you to maximize trading opportunities around the clock. Use this guide to make informed decisions and bolster your trading strategy based on up-to-date market conditions.
How to Manage Risk Around Market Open and Close Times
When a major forex trading center like New York is opening or closing, liquidity and volatility can change rapidly. Here are some tips for managing risk around these transition periods:
- Avoid the First Hour: Give the market time to establish direction and wait for a trend to emerge after the first 60 minutes of a new session.
- Be Cautious on Sundays: The markets tend to gap at the Sunday open after events over the weekend. Manage risk until a clear trend forms.
- Watch for Reversals: A strong trending move may reverse at a session open or close as volatility declines. Be ready to exit positions.
- Use Limit Orders: Place entry and exit limit orders to control your risk if a gap occurs between sessions. Set orders above or below key levels.
- Close Out Positions: Consider closing out trades before a session ends to avoid getting caught in unexpected overnight volatility.
- Check the News: Read up on market-moving events over the weekend or scheduled around opens and closes to understand what may cause jumps.
- Lower Position Size: Trade smaller than normal when volatility is expected to decline near a session close to limit your downside.
By taking precautions around market open and close times, you can avoid getting whipsawed by shifting market conditions.
How Daylight Savings Time Affects Forex Market Hours
Twice a year, forex market hours shift by one hour during daylight saving time transitions in March and November.
Here is how daylight savings impacts forex trading sessions:
- Sydney: Closes 1 hour earlier during Sydney daylight savings from October to April.
- Tokyo: No impact, as Japan does not observe daylight savings.
- London: Opens 1 hour earlier and closes 1 hour later during Europe daylight savings from March to October.
- New York: Opens 1 hour earlier and closes 1 hour later during New York daylight saving from March to November.
So in the spring shift, Sydney and Tokyo become further misaligned by 1 hour, while London and New York align by 1 hour more. The reverse happens in fall.
Always double check the forex market hours before and after the daylight savings shift. Use it as an opportunity to refine your trading strategies for the new session alignment.
How to Adjust for Daylight Savings as a Trader
When daylight savings kicks in, here are some steps to take as a trader:
- Mark your calendars with the exact date of the shifts in March and November.
- In the weeks before, note how the changing hours may impact your current trading strategy.
- Wake up early and go to bed late a few days before the shift to adjust your body clock.
- Set a schedule for when you will trade based on the new market hours.
- In the first week after the shift, trade small as you analyze how the sessions now align.
- Be alert for opportunities like new gaps between sessions or extended overlaps.
- Avoid trading right at the time shift and let markets establish a trend.
With some planning, daylight savings transitions can present new trading opportunities based on the shifting forex market hours.
Key Takeaways on Forex Market Hours
Here are the major takeaways on forex trading sessions:
- Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York are the four major trading centers.
- Sessions run Sunday 5:00 pm to Friday 5:00 pm EST, closing on the weekends.
- Peak volatility occurs when London and New York sessions overlap.
- Watch news events, economic reports, and holidays that close specific markets.
- Adjust your trading strategies for each session based on currency pairs and volume.
- Manage risk carefully around open and close times when liquidity fluctuates.
- Daylight savings causes sessions to shift by one hour twice per year.
Mastering forex market hours enables you to boost returns by trading during times of optimal volatility. Use this guide to make the most of market-moving events any time of day or night.
“If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.”
- Warren Buffett
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