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Forex trading sessions: when is the market open?
Forex isn’t traded on one exchange, so it runs around the clock from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon (Eastern Time).
The main sessions (Eastern Time, approximate)
| Session | Hours (ET) | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 5 PM – 2 AM | Quiet; week opens Sunday evening |
| Tokyo | 7 PM – 4 AM | Yen pairs active |
| London | 3 AM – 12 PM | The busiest session; big moves |
| New York | 8 AM – 5 PM | US data releases; USD, CAD and gold active |
Hours shift by about an hour when daylight saving time changes in North America and Europe on different dates.
The best time for beginners
The London–New York overlap (about 8 AM to 12 PM ET) usually has the most activity and tightest spreads. Gold is also very active then.
Times to be careful
- Major news releases at 8:30 AM ET (US jobs, inflation) can cause sudden jumps.
- Around 5 PM ET, spreads can widen as the trading day rolls over.
- Sunday evening opens can “gap” away from Friday’s close.