Forex Market Hours & Best Times to Trade in 2025

Master the global forex market schedule and maximize your trading profits

Updated January 202512 min readMarket Hours

Understanding Forex Market Hours

The forex market operates 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, but not all hours are created equal. Understanding when each major financial center is active can significantly impact your trading success.

🌍 Global Trading Schedule

24/5
Hours per week
4
Major sessions

Major Trading Sessions

London Session

Trading Hours:

3:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST

Volume:

High

Best Currency Pairs:

EUR/USDGBP/USDEUR/GBP

Characteristics:

High volatility, EUR and GBP pairs most active

Session Overlaps: Peak Trading Times

Tokyo-London Overlap

Time:

3:00 AM - 4:00 AM EST

Volume:

Medium-High

Brief but active period, good for EUR/JPY and GBP/JPY

London-New York Overlap

Time:

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST

Volume:

Highest

Most active trading period, highest volume and volatility

Best Times to Trade Different Strategies

🎯 Scalping & Day Trading

  • •Best Time: London-NY overlap (8AM-12PM EST)
  • •Why: Highest volume and volatility
  • •Pairs: EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY
  • •Avoid: Sydney session (low volatility)

📊 Swing Trading

  • •Best Time: Any major session opening
  • •Why: Less dependent on specific hours
  • •Focus: Daily/weekly chart patterns
  • •Advantage: Can trade around work schedule

Weekly Trading Schedule

Monday
Active Trading
Tuesday
Active Trading
Wednesday
Active Trading
Thursday
Active Trading
Friday
Active Trading
Saturday
Market Closed
Sunday
Market Closed

⚠️ Important Notes:

  • • Markets open Sunday 5:00 PM EST (Sydney session)
  • • Markets close Friday 5:00 PM EST (New York session)
  • • Reduced activity on major holidays
  • • Daylight saving time changes affect session times

Economic Calendar & Market Hours

🇺🇸 US News

Time: 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM EST

Major impact on USD pairs during New York session

🇪🇺 EU News

Time: 4:00 AM - 6:00 AM EST

Affects EUR pairs during London session

🇯🇵 JP News

Time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM EST

Impacts JPY pairs during Tokyo session

Global Time Zone Reference

SessionESTGMTLocal Time
Sydney5:00 PM - 2:00 AM10:00 PM - 7:00 AM9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tokyo7:00 PM - 4:00 AM12:00 AM - 9:00 AM9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
London3:00 AM - 12:00 PM8:00 AM - 5:00 PM8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
New York8:00 AM - 5:00 PM1:00 PM - 10:00 PM8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Pro Tips for Trading Different Sessions

💡 Session-Specific Strategies

London Session:

  • • Focus on EUR/USD breakouts
  • • Watch for London open gaps
  • • High volatility in first 2 hours

New York Session:

  • • USD pairs most active
  • • Watch for reversal patterns
  • • Economic news impact strongest

Trade at the Right Time with Professional Signals

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