Forex trading operates 24 hours a day, five days a week, across major global financial centres. These trading hours are divided into four key sessions: Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York. Each session corresponds to the business hours of a major global market and offers varying levels of liquidity and volatility.

What This Article Covers

• Overview of the four main forex trading sessions
• Best times to trade for different strategies
• Overlaps between sessions and why they matter
• A real-world example of trading during a high-volume window
• Expert answers to common time-related trading questions

Key Takeaways

• Forex trading is open 24/5, starting Sunday evening and ending Friday night
• The London and New York sessions offer the highest volatility
• Session overlaps create ideal conditions for active trading
• Knowing your session timings boosts profitability and reduces risk

Global Forex Market Sessions (GMT)

Session	Open (GMT)	Close (GMT)
Sydney	22:00	07:00
Tokyo	00:00	09:00
London	08:00	17:00
New York	13:00	22:00

Note: These times may shift slightly during Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the UK and US.

Best Trading Hours Based on Strategy

Scalping and Intraday Trading

• Best during London–New York overlap (13:00–17:00 GMT)
• Highest liquidity and tightest spreads

Swing Trading

• Look for end-of-day setups after 21:00 GMT when markets settle
• Align with session closes for clearer chart signals

News Trading

• Trade around key economic releases like US Non-Farm Payrolls (13:30 GMT)
• Focus on New York session for high-impact USD events

Session Overlaps and Their Impact

1. London–New York Overlap

• Most liquid and volatile period of the day
• Major currency pairs like EUR/USD, GBP/USD see significant movement

2. Tokyo–London Overlap

• Offers opportunities in JPY and EUR pairs
• Less volatility than London–New York but suitable for specific strategies

Case Study: Maximising Gains During London–New York Overlap

Amir, a part-time trader in Birmingham, noticed he made inconsistent profits when trading at random times. After switching to focus only on the 13:00–17:00 GMT London–New York overlap, he:

• Reduced trade frequency by 40%
• Improved win rate from 46% to 59%
• Increased daily average pip gains by over 30%

By aligning with the most liquid hours, Amir enhanced his trading edge while reducing emotional decisions caused by slow-moving markets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main forex trading sessions?

The four main sessions are Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York. Together, they form a 24-hour trading day from Monday to Friday.

When is the forex market most active?

The most active time is the London–New York overlap from 13:00 to 17:00 GMT. This is when trading volume peaks and volatility increases.

Can I trade forex on weekends?

The forex market is closed on weekends. It reopens on Sunday at 22:00 GMT (Sydney session) and closes Friday at 22:00 GMT (New York session).

Which forex session is best for beginners?

Beginners may benefit from trading during the London session due to high liquidity and clearer price movements.

Do forex session times change during Daylight Saving Time?

Yes. Session open/close times shift by one hour in regions observing DST, like the UK and US. Always double-check your trading platform’s clock.

Conclusion

Understanding forex trading session times is crucial for building an effective trading routine. By aligning your strategy with session overlaps and periods of high liquidity, you can improve execution, reduce slippage, and capitalise on market volatility. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trader, knowing when to trade is just as important as knowing how. For structured guidance, explore our professional Forex Course designed to help you master both strategy and timing.