Forex Market Hours: When to Trade

Master forex market hours in this 3-minute guide. Learn the 24/5 sessions, overlaps, holidays, and after-hours trading for smarter strategies.

Timing is everything in forex. This 24/5 market hums across time zones, and knowing when it’s hot—or not—can make or break your trades. From session overlaps to holiday shutdowns, here’s your cheat sheet to forex hours.

How Forex Hours Work

Forex runs Sunday evening to Friday night, synced to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). No matter where you are, UTC keeps you on track with opens, closes, and peak action. It’s a global relay race—Tokyo to London to New York and beyond.

The Four Trading Sessions

Forex splits into four key sessions, each with its own flavor:

• Tokyo: Kicks off at 12:00 AM UTC, ends 9:00 AM UTC. Low-key and chill, driven by Japan.
• London: The big kahuna, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM UTC. Wildly volatile and liquid—forex central.
• New York: 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM UTC. Second in command, it amps up the action.
• Sydney: 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM UTC. Aussie-led and mellow, winding down the day.

Peak Action: Session Overlaps

The real fireworks happen when sessions collide:

• New York-London: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM UTC. Prime time—tons of volume, tight spreads.
• Sydney-Tokyo: 12:00 AM - 7:00 AM UTC. Early birds catch this quieter overlap.
• London-Tokyo: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM UTC. A quick, sharp burst of action.

Overlaps mean more traders, more moves—your sweet spot for big plays.

Holidays: When Forex Takes a Breather

Forex shuts down globally for Christmas and New Year’s Day. Other holidays—like U.S. ones—can slow things too, depending on your platform’s location. Here’s what the U.S. skips:

• New Year’s Day (Jan 1)
• MLK Day (3rd Mon, Jan)
• Presidents’ Day (3rd Mon, Feb)
• Good Friday
• Memorial Day (last Mon, May)
• Independence Day (Jul 4)
• Labor Day (1st Mon, Sep)
• Thanksgiving (4th Thu, Nov)
• Christmas (Dec 25)

Check your broker—some markets trim hours or close for local holidays.

After-Hours Trading: The Night Owl Option

Weekends or holidays got you stuck? Electronic Communication Networks (ECNs) let you trade after hours. It’s a lifeline for catching off-hours news, but watch out—liquidity’s thin, spreads widen, and volatility spikes. Risky, but rewarding if you’re sharp.

Trade the Clock

Nail your timing with tools like the Myfxbook Market Hours Chart. Whether you’re chasing London’s chaos or Sydney’s calm, knowing the hours—and overlaps—sets you up to trade smarter, not harder.