Forex trading is a 24-hour market, but it operates through four major global trading sessions: Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York. Understanding forex trading times in GMT is essential for identifying peak liquidity, managing volatility, and aligning strategies with global economic events.

This article outlines the full forex trading schedule in GMT, explains session overlaps, and provides strategic insights into when and what to trade during each session.

Key Takeaways

• Forex trading operates 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, from Sunday evening to Friday night (GMT).
• The most active trading periods occur during session overlaps, especially London/New York.
• Different sessions suit different trading styles, such as scalping in Asia or trend trading in London.
• Knowing GMT session timings helps traders align with high-volume periods for better execution.
• Session-based strategies improve trade timing and risk management.

Forex Trading Sessions in GMT

Session	Open (GMT)	Close (GMT)	Key Characteristics
Sydney	22:00	07:00	Lower volatility, ideal for AUD/NZD pairs
Tokyo (Asia)	00:00	09:00	Active JPY pairs, slow momentum builds
London (Europe)	08:00	17:00	High liquidity, EUR, GBP pairs move strongly
New York	13:00	22:00	USD pairs dominate, news-driven volatility

Forex opens at 22:00 GMT on Sunday with the Sydney session and closes at 22:00 GMT on Friday at the end of the New York session.

Session Overlaps (Most Active Times)

The most volatile and liquid market conditions arise during overlaps:

• London–Tokyo Overlap (08:00–09:00 GMT): Transition period, JPY and EUR crosses active.
• London–New York Overlap (13:00–17:00 GMT): The most active window, ideal for day trading USD, GBP, and EUR pairs.

Best Times to Trade Forex in GMT

Time (GMT)	Best For	Currency Focus
00:00–03:00	Scalping in low-volatility conditions	JPY, AUD
08:00–11:00	Trend trading, news trading	EUR, GBP, CHF
13:00–17:00	Breakouts, high-impact moves	USD, GBP, EUR, CAD
17:00–22:00	Reversals, position exits	All majors slow down

Avoid trading during low-volume hours such as 21:00–23:00 GMT, where spreads widen and market makers dominate.

Case Study: Timing a EUR/USD Breakout

Liam, a forex student enrolled in a Forex Course, learned to time his EUR/USD trades to coincide with the London–New York overlap. By entering positions around 13:30 GMT after key economic releases like US CPI, he noticed tighter spreads, faster execution, and higher win rates. The course helped him use volatility windows to maximise potential with tighter stop losses.

Forex Trading Session Characteristics

Session	Liquidity	Volatility	Best Pairs
Sydney	Low	Low	AUD/NZD crosses
Tokyo	Moderate	Moderate	JPY, AUD/JPY, EUR/JPY
London	High	High	GBP/USD, EUR/USD, GBP/JPY
New York	High	High	USD/JPY, USD/CAD, EUR/USD

The London session accounts for over 35% of daily forex volume, while the New York session contributes another 30%.

Fundamental vs Technical Considerations by Session

Factor	Sydney/Tokyo	London/New York
Fundamentals	Light news flow	Heavy economic releases
Technical Trading	Works well in Asia	Breakouts, trends dominate

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does forex trading open in GMT?

Forex opens at 22:00 GMT on Sunday with the Sydney session.

When is the most active forex trading time in GMT?

The London–New York overlap from 13:00 to 17:00 GMT is the most active and liquid period.

What’s the best GMT time to trade EUR/USD?

Between 08:00 and 17:00 GMT, particularly during the London and New York sessions.

Is it safe to trade forex during Asian hours?

Yes, though liquidity is lower. It’s ideal for scalping or trading JPY and AUD pairs.

Does forex trading close on weekends in GMT?

Yes, trading closes at 22:00 GMT on Friday and resumes at 22:00 GMT on Sunday.