The four main sessions
Times below are local to each financial centre. The table above converts them to your time zone automatically, including daylight saving changes.
- Sydney – 7:00 to 16:00 Sydney time. The quietest session, opening the trading week.
- Tokyo – 9:00 to 18:00 Tokyo time. Active for JPY, AUD and NZD pairs.
- London – 8:00 to 17:00 London time. The largest share of daily volume.
- New York – 8:00 to 17:00 New York time. Driven by US data releases.
Best times to trade
The London–New York overlap usually has the highest volume and tightest spreads, especially for EUR/USD, GBP/USD and gold. The late New York and early Sydney hours are often thin, with wider spreads.
Frequently asked questions
Is the forex market open on weekends?
No. It closes at 5 pm New York time on Friday and reopens at 5 pm New York time on Sunday.
Do session times change with daylight saving?
Yes. London, New York and Sydney change their clocks on different dates. This page adjusts for that automatically.
What are the best hours to trade in Pakistan?
In Pakistan time (PKT) the London–New York overlap runs about 5 pm to 9 pm during northern summer and about 6 pm to 10 pm in winter.