Many new traders are told that the only viable time to trade forex is during the major sessions — London, New York, and the overlap between the two. This advice has created the myth that you can only trade forex during these sessions, and that any attempt to trade outside them is a waste of time. While the major sessions offer higher liquidity and volatility, the truth is: forex is a 24-hour market, and profitable opportunities exist during all trading sessions — if you understand the dynamics.

This article explains why trading outside major sessions is not only possible but can be strategic — depending on your goals, timeframe, and style.

Why the myth exists

1. Major sessions have the most movement
The London and New York sessions dominate forex volume. Naturally, most trading opportunities — especially breakouts and high momentum moves — occur here.

2. Lower volatility during Asian hours
Traders notice the market moves more slowly during the Asian session, especially in pairs like EUR/USD or GBP/USD, leading to the assumption that it’s not worth trading.

3. Spread widening during off-hours
Liquidity drops outside major sessions, and spreads can widen — which discourages trading during quieter times.

4. News releases tend to occur during major sessions
High-impact economic events (e.g. NFP, CPI, rate decisions) happen in the London and New York hours, driving most of the short-term volatility.

Why you can trade forex outside major sessions

1. The market is open 24/5

• Forex runs from Sunday 10 PM GMT to Friday 10 PM GMT.
• Traders around the world participate at all hours — particularly in Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern markets.

2. Certain pairs are active during specific regional sessions

• Asian session: Pairs like AUD/USD, NZD/JPY, and USD/JPY show more movement due to local economic releases and liquidity.
• Early Europe: CHF and EUR pairs may react to Swiss or EU data before London opens.
• Late US session: CAD pairs often remain active into early Asia.

3. Quieter sessions suit specific trading styles

• Range trading, mean reversion, and liquidity grabs work well during low-volatility hours.
• Scalping inside consolidation zones or fade setups during Asia is common among experienced traders.

4. Spread impact is manageable

• While spreads widen slightly outside major sessions, they remain tight on majors like USD/JPY or AUD/USD with reputable brokers.
• If you’re not overleveraging or overtrading, spread impact is negligible.

5. News events do happen outside majors

• RBA, BOJ, and RBNZ rate decisions, as well as Chinese data releases, occur during the Asian session — creating real volatility in regional pairs.

When trading outside major sessions makes sense

• You work a job and only have time during off-hours
• You focus on Asia-based pairs with session-aligned liquidity
• You prefer low-volatility setups (e.g. range-bound entries)
• You have a longer-term outlook and don’t rely on micro-moves
• You want to catch breakout anticipation before majors open

Best practices for trading during off-peak hours

• Stick to pairs aligned with the session (e.g. AUD/JPY during Asia)
• Trade setups that suit the tempo — don’t force breakout strategies in sleepy conditions
• Use wider stops if needed to account for spread or noise
• Be patient — trades may take longer to develop
• Always check the economic calendar — even Asian data can cause sharp moves

Conclusion

No — you don’t need to trade only during major sessions to be profitable. While London and New York offer speed and liquidity, many traders profit during Asian and early European hours using strategies that fit the pace. The key is knowing which pairs move when — and which strategies match the session’s character.

To learn how to build flexible forex strategies that work across sessions — without being chained to the clock — enrol in our Trading Courses at Traders MBA, where trading adapts to your schedule, not the other way around.