What time is the forex market open is a common query from novice traders as their interest in forex trading increases. The next question people have is, “How is that possible?” after learning that the FX market is open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.
And the solution is rather straightforward: since there is no central exchange for the forex market, trading “follows the sun,” traveling from one nation to the next as the trading hours go on, allowing each market to neatly overlap.
The foreign exchange market typically operates from Monday through Friday, pausing only on the weekends when the main banks are closed.
Because of this, the forex market is typically divided into the Tokyo session, London session, and New York session. Forex traders can benefit from the advantages of forex trading whenever they choose because these sessions span several time zones.
The market will still be open and available for trading even if you are short on time and just have an hour to spare each day!
What are the forex market hours?
The foreign exchange market is operational around the clock, five days a week.
The market begins on Monday at 8:00 a.m. local time in New Zealand, with one of the main sessions beginning at 9:00 a.m. local time in Sydney, which is 10:00 p.m. GMT on Sunday.
At 9:00 PM Friday GMT, the foreign exchange market will subsequently close for the weekend.
Although the three primary sessions when activity is at its greatest are the Asian trading session (Tokyo), European trading session (London), and North American trading session (New York), the Sydney session is often referred to because it is the first session that opens a new week.
The four main FX markets’ opening and closing times are listed below:
- Sydney opens at 9:00 pm and closes 7:00 am GMT, which is 7:00 am and 5:00 pm local time.
- Tokyo opens at 11:00 pm and closes 9:00 am GMT, which is 8:00 am and 6:00 pm local time.
- London opens at 8:00 am and closes 6:00 pm GMT, which is 9:00 am and 7:00 pm local time.
- New York opens at 1:00 pm and closes 11:00 pm GMT, which is 9:00 am and 7:00 pm local time.
Does daylight savings time (DST) alter the hours that the FX market is open?
Yes, the usual currency market trading hours are impacted by Daylight Savings Time. Due to daylight savings, trading hours will be modified from November through March.
The four main markets’ opening and closing times during daylight savings are as follows:
- Sydney opens at 10:00 pm and closes 8:00 am GMT, which is 9:00 am and 7:00 pm local time.
- Tokyo opens at 11:00 pm and closes 9:00 am GMT, which is 8:00 am and 6:00 pm local time. (Tokyo hours aren’t affected by daylight savings)
- London opens at 7:00 am and closes 5:00 pm GMT, which is 7:00 am and 5:00 pm local time.
- New York opens at 12:00 pm and closes 10:00 pm GMT, which is 7:00 am and 5:00 pm local time.
These foreign exchange market hours apply to the months of November through March (Winter). In addition to the four minor sessions that should be taken into account in this global market, we have highlighted the key forex sessions:
- New Zealand – Open 10:00 pm and close 6:00 am GMT
- Frankfurt – Open 7:00 am and close 4:00 pm GMT
- Hong Kong – Open 1:00 am and close 10:00 am GMT
- Singapore – Open 1:00 am and close 10:00 am GMT
Why is the forex market open all day?
One of the few financial markets that has the privilege of being open around-the-clock, five days a week is the currency market. This is brought on by the many time zones throughout the world and the fact that trading takes place over a network of computers rather than at actual, physically present exchanges.
According to the BIS’s 2019 triennial survey, the amount exchanged on the forex market is substantially bigger than any other market due to its prolonged trading hours, with $6.6 trillion being handled daily.
Over 170 different currencies are exchanged on the worldwide forex market, according to the same report.
What time does the forex market open?
The time the forex market is open will depend on where you live and your time zone. The Tokyo session opens at 12 a.m. and closes at 9 a.m. UK time during the fall and winter. With almost a quarter of all forex transactions taking place during this session, it is one of the biggest forex trading hubs on the planet. There will probably be more action throughout the Asian session in yen-containing currency combinations as well as Asia Pacific currency pairs like AUS/USD.
The London Foreign Exchange Market opens at 8 AM UK time and processes an estimated £2.1 trillion worth of foreign exchange transactions daily. Since there is more liquidity during the London session, there are probably going to be lower FX spreads. The London session, on the other hand, is also characterized by high volatility, which frequently makes it the best time to trade the major currency pairs because they have lower spreads because of the high volume of deals. At 4:00 PM, this session ends.
After that, the New York session begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. UK time. Due to the overlap with the previous London session, there is more liquidity at the beginning of the New York forex market hours session. As the trading day comes to a finish, there is often little activity toward the end of the session.
The 24-hour forex trading cycle is completed by the Sydney forex market, which is open from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. UK time.
The currency market opens first in New Zealand on Monday at 8:00 am local time, which is Sunday at 7:00 pm GMT, because that time zone’s international dateline marks the beginning of a new calendar day. Despite the fact that trading really begins in New Zealand before moving to Sydney, the first trading session of the week is known as the Sydney session.
When do the sessions for the FX market overlap?
There is a point when trading sessions for FX cross over. Because two sessions are active at once, these are typically the busiest times of the day due to the increased trading activity in the forex market.
Overlapping FX market sessions include:
- New York and London: 1:00 pm — 5:00 pm GMT
- Sydney and Tokyo: 1:00 am — 7:00 am GMT
- London and Tokyo: 8:00 am — 10:00 am GMT
When trading the EUR/USD and GBP/USD currency pairs between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm GMT, for instance, you can notice a lot of liquidity because both of those currencies’ markets are now busy.
This is also the reason why the European session open, when the majority of the major currency pairs are traded, is regarded as the most liquid and active trading session. The GBPUSD, EURUSD, USDJPY, USDCAD, and AUDUSD are included in this.
When is the best time to trade forex?
Since the market is more active during an overlap when it is open for more than one session, this is the ideal time to trade forex. Due to a higher likelihood of price movement in currency pairs, there are more opportunities when there are more FX traders engaged in the market. But keep in mind that this volatility may also result in higher risk.
Currency pairs typically experience tighter pip spread movement when only one forex market session is open, however a trading session with two open markets may exhibit greater pips movement.
In general, the New York and London sessions between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm GMT are the ideal forex session overlaps to trade. The US Dollar and the Euro are now the two most traded currencies, which makes sense given that more than 70% of all deals occur when the two largest markets overlap and there is likely to be greater price activity.
It is always necessary to gain a better understanding of how forex trading operates and how to trade forex before you delve into these trading sessions.
Which holidays have an impact on the FX market?
The currency market is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, making them the only two holidays when it is not open.
There are additional occasions throughout the year that may affect the foreign exchange market and particular currency pairs, such as. Holidays in Japan may impact the Yen but not other currencies.
To be informed about announcements affecting the world economy, keep an eye on the FX economic calendar. Additionally, be sure to understand how to read the economic calendar so you can be aware of any important upcoming events or news.
Why are the forex opening and closing times significant?
Finding out when markets open is a critical step in organizing your trading plan because there are numerous trading tactics and trading styles.
For instance, some traders might utilize a trading approach that is currency-focused. They will concentrate on the Japanese Yen as a result when the Tokyo forex session starts. Similar to this, the focus of the London and New York forex sessions will shift to the movement of the USD and/or GBP.
Picking the optimal time that fits your trading style and approach is something that every trader should be aware of because there are several trading chances and volatility levels coming throughout the day.
What are forex trading gaps?
Since this is the only time the foreign exchange market is closed and no trading occurs, there are gaps in the forex market throughout the weekend. The prices can still alter throughout the two days when trading does not occur, despite the market not being open seven days a week.
Currency prices can still increase or decrease during these “gaps” in normal trading, hence some traders have tactics for trading gaps to profit from this occurrence. During this time, unexpected price shifts can also happen, typically as a result of a significant economic or environmental event that has a significant impact on a currency’s value.
What hours can I trade forex?
Currently, the majority of forex brokers pricing occurs from Monday midnight to Friday midnight (Server Time). It’s possible that different brokers operate in the market at various times.
Can I keep forex positions open on weekends and holidays?
Yes, all FX positions are permissible on weekends and significant holidays. However, due to a lack of liquidity or price changes, the market’s open or close times may change. When big events take place during the market’s shutdown, traders who hold open positions over the weekend should be aware that these positions are subject to increased risk.
Final thoughts
Since currency is a requirement for central banks, international trade, and multinational corporations, a 24-hour market is necessary to accommodate transactions spanning different time zones. From Sunday evening until Friday night, the currency market is open 24 hours a day. This is because you can trade at any time of day thanks to the numerous foreign time zones. In conclusion, it is safe to assume that a participant in the forex market will always be able to conduct a currency trade at some point during the trading week.
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