Forex Market Hours Guide

Forex Trading Hours For US Traders

Forex markets operate 24 hours a day, five days a week across four major trading sessions. As a US trader, understanding when each session opens gives you an edge since liquidity and volatility vary dramatically depending on which markets are active.

What Time Does the London Session Open?

The London session operates between 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST. This is the busiest and most volatile session globally as it overlaps with both Tokyo (closing) and New York (opening). The London session is when EUR/USD and GBP/USD see their tightest spreads and highest liquidity.

Are Forex Markets Open 24 Hours a Day?

The forex market is active 24 hours a day, five days a week, unlike traditional stock markets which have set hours. The market opens Sunday 5:00 PM EST and closes Friday 5:00 PM EST. Although weekend trading isn’t an option, between the four major forex trading sessions you have a selection of time slots during weekdays to trade forex.

Forex Market Time Zone Converter

Use a forex market time zone converter to see which sessions are open based on your local time. These tools show the four major trading sessions – London, New York, Tokyo, and Sydney – with their overlapping periods and trading volumes. By adjusting to your time zone, you can identify when markets overlap for maximum liquidity and volatility opportunities.

Forex Market Time Zone Converter

24 Hour Time

Timezone (reset)

Midway (GMT -11)Hawaii (GMT -10)Aleutian Islands (GMT -9)Alaska (GMT -8)Los Angeles (GMT -7)Denver (GMT -6)Chicago (GMT -5)New York (GMT -4)Puerto Rico (GMT -4)Buenos Aires (GMT -3)Rio de Janeiro (GMT -3)Cape Verde (GMT -1)UTC (GMT 0)London (GMT +1)Berlin (GMT +2)Cairo (GMT +3)Moscow (GMT +3)Tehran (GMT +3:30)Dubai (GMT +4)Karachi (GMT +5)Mumbai (GMT +5:30)Dhaka (GMT +6)Yangon (GMT +6:30)Bangkok (GMT +7)Singapore (GMT +8)Tokyo (GMT +9)Darwin (GMT +9:30)Brisbane (GMT +10)Adelaide (GMT +9:30)Sydney (GMT +10)Fiji (GMT +12)Auckland (GMT +12)Kiritimati (GMT +14)

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Sydney

(UTC +10)

Tokyo

(UTC +9)

London

(UTC +1)

New York

(UTC -4)

Trading Volume is usually
at this time of day.

high

Forex Market Hours in the US

Forex trading sessions are divided into four main trading sessions: the New York, London, Tokyo, and Sydney sessions.

• New York Session runs from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
• London operates between 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST
• Tokyo runs between 7:00 PM – 4:00 AM EST
• Sydney opens 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM EST

What are the Busiest Forex Trading Times?

The London session is the busiest and most volatile trading session as it overlaps with both Tokyo and New York. The New York trading session is the second busiest due to it overlapping with the London session. This overlap between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM EST creates the highest trading volume and tightest spreads of the day.

Sydney and Tokyo sessions tend to be less volatile, with Tokyo being the first to open after the weekend and Sydney being driven primarily by local Australian markets.

Most Popular Currencies

The top 5 most frequently traded currency pairs globally are:

1. US Dollar vs Euro (USD/EUR)
2. US Dollar vs Japanese Yen (USD/JPY)
3. US Dollar vs Great British Pound (USD/GBP)
4. US Dollar vs Chinese Yuan (USD/CNY)
5. US Dollar vs Canadian Dollar (USD/CAD)

The US Dollar being on one side of all the most frequently traded forex pairs shows the dominance of the USD in the forex market. Its role as the world’s primary reserve currency and its widespread use in international trade cements the currency’s global significance.

Forex Market Cap and Trading Volume

From 2019 to 2022, the market cap of forex trading surged from USD 1.93 quadrillion to USD 2.73 quadrillion.

With forex markets expanding by 41.45% in just three years, it shows how currency trading popularity is continually increasing. Daily trading volume has seen similar growth, increasing from USD 6.6 trillion per day in 2019 to USD 7.5 trillion in 2022.

From 2022 to 2025, daily forex trading volume jumped from USD 7.5 trillion to USD 9.6 trillion – a 28% increase in just three years.

That’s the fastest growth we’ve seen in over a decade. The spike reflects more cross-border trade happening globally, bigger institutional players getting involved, and a lot more retail traders jumping into online platforms.

Factors That Affect Forex Markets

Forex markets are influenced by various factors making them complex and highly volatile. One of the most significant factors is macroeconomic statistics (i.e. inflation rates and GDP). When such statistics are released they can have great impact of the value of a currency and cause rapid fluctuations in the forex market (known as volatility).

Other financial markets such as commodities and bonds impact the value of currencies as well. For instance, changes in oil prices would likely affect the Canadian dollar as its an oil exporting country.

International trade is another key factor as a trade surplus can led to appreciation of a currency, and currency depreciation with a trade deficit.

Political news is another influencing factor. Changes in government spending, elections, legislative changes, and instability can all affect a country’s currency value.

What Is The Best Forex Broker To Benefit From Trading Sessions?

When you’re trading across different sessions, you need a broker that performs well around the clock. Based on our research at CompareForexBrokers, OANDA, Forex.com, and IG stand out for session traders because they offer tight spreads during both high and low liquidity periods, plus reliable execution when volatility spikes.

Choose forex brokers based on three factors that maximize your ability to trade across different sessions.

1. Execution speed and reliability

Fast execution matters most during session overlaps when volatility spikes. Look for brokers offering sub-120ms execution speeds to capitalize on London-New York overlap opportunities between 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST. Platform stability during high-volume periods prevents missed trades when markets move fastest.

2. Spread competitiveness across sessions

Spreads widen during low-liquidity sessions like Sydney and Tokyo. Compare how brokers handle spreads outside London-New York overlap. Some brokers maintain tight spreads 24/5 while others dramatically widen during Asian sessions affecting profitability if you trade those hours.

3. Platform accessibility and session tools

24/5 customer support matters when trading Tokyo or Sydney sessions from US time zones. Platforms should include session indicators showing which markets are currently open and economic calendars marking high-impact news releases by session for planning trades around volatility events.

What Trading App is best to trade sessions?

The best trading app for session trading provides reliable alerts and fast execution across all four sessions. OANDA’s mobile app includes session indicators and price alerts for London open opportunities. Forex.com’s app offers fast execution during volatile overlaps between sessions. Look for apps with economic calendars showing which session each news event impacts, helping you avoid trading EUR during ECB announcements.

What broker should beginners trade during the session?

Beginner traders should start by trading the New York session from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST since it aligns with US business hours and your natural schedule. OANDA and Forex.com are both top choices for tight spreads and selection of trading platforms, while IG is a great option for beginner traders who need educational resources explaining how different sessions affect currency pairs.

Avoid trading Tokyo and Sydney sessions as a beginner – low liquidity creates unpredictable price movements and wider spreads that hurt learning progress. Focus on London-New York overlap once you’ve mastered basics since that’s when spreads are tightest and execution most reliable.

What is the most popular platform to trade sessions?

MetaTrader 4 is the most popular platform for trading across sessions. MT4’s flexibility lets you set alerts for specific session opens – you can set alerts for London open at 3:00 AM EST and New York-London overlap at 8:00 AM EST. The platform includes session indicators showing which markets are currently active.

Expert Advisors can automate strategies that only trade during specific sessions, letting you capitalize on London volatility without staying awake overnight.

FAQs

What Time is the Forex Market Most Active?

The most active trading hours are when New York and London sessions overlap from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST. This is when forex markets experience the highest trading volume, offering more potential for profitable trading strategies.

What is the Best Time to Trade Forex?

The best time to trade forex in the United States is during the overlap of the New York and London trading sessions between 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST. It is at this point that forex markets experience the greatest liquidity and price movements.

What time does the forex market open?

Forex markets operate 24/5 with each major trading session opening at a different time. For US-based traders, the New York forex market opens at 8:00 AM EST, while forex trading hours in London opens at 3:00 AM EST. Tokyo opens at 7:00 PM EST and Sydney 5:00 PM EST, both the previous day.

What time does the forex market close?

Forex markets are closed between Friday 5:00 PM EST and Sunday 5:00 PM EST. During this time, trading activities are halted. Outside of the New York trading session in the US, the London session closes at 12:00 PM EST, Tokyo 4:00 AM EST, and Sydney 2:00 AM EST.

What time zone do forex and stock markets use?

The four major trading sessions operate in their local time zones, being Eastern Standard Time for the New York session and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for the London session. Trading platforms typically display times in your local timezone automatically, converting from the session’s native timezone. Most brokers default to EST for US traders but let you customize timezone display preferences.

What is UTC Time?

UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is the primary time standard by which clocks and time are regulated globally. It serves as the reference point for converting between different time zones worldwide without daylight saving adjustments.

Forex Trading Sessions in UTC Time

New York session runs 13:00 – 22:00 UTC, London operates 08:00 – 17:00 UTC, Tokyo runs 00:00 – 09:00 UTC, and Sydney opens 22:00 (previous day) – 07:00 UTC. UTC time provides a consistent reference point eliminating confusion from daylight saving changes.

Are stock markets and forex markets open at the same time?

Yes, there is an overlap between stock market and forex market opening hours, but stock markets operate on more restricted hours than forex markets. In the United States, the NYSE and NASDAQ are open from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday to Friday, while forex markets are open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. The New York forex session overlaps with US stock market hours from 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EST.