Forex trading sessions and the best times to trade

The currency market trades 24 hours a day on weekdays, but activity is far from even. It follows the business day around the globe through four main centres.

The four sessions

• Sydney opens the week on Sunday evening, New York time. Activity is usually light.
• Tokyo brings yen, Australian and New Zealand dollar trading to life.
• London is the largest centre, handling the biggest share of global volume. Euro and pound pairs are most active.
• New York adds US data releases and dollar flows. Its morning overlaps with London’s afternoon.

Overlaps are where the action is

When two centres are open at once, liquidity deepens and spreads tighten. The London and New York overlap, roughly 8 a.m. to noon New York time, is usually the busiest stretch of the day, and many major US economic releases land at its start.

Quiet times

Late in the New York afternoon and around holidays, fewer participants are active. Prices can drift or jump on small orders, and spreads widen. Friday evenings and Sunday openings can also gap if news breaks over the weekend.

See it live

The markets page shows which sessions are open right now in your own time zone, including daylight-saving changes in each city.