What are the four forex trading sessions?

Forex trades around the clock from Monday morning in Sydney to Friday evening in New York. Liquidity moves with the business day: Sydney (07:00–16:00 local), Tokyo (09:00–18:00), London (08:00–17:00) and New York (08:00–17:00). This clock converts each of those windows into your own time zone and adjusts for daylight saving automatically.

When is the best time to trade?

Most volume and the tightest spreads occur when London and New York are both open, roughly 13:00–17:00 UK time. Asian hours are quieter and better suited to JPY, AUD and NZD pairs. Low-liquidity periods, such as just after the New York close, often have wider spreads and more erratic moves.

When does the forex market close for the weekend?

Retail forex closes at 17:00 New York time on Friday and reopens around 17:00 New York time on Sunday (when Sydney's Monday begins). The exact minute varies by broker, and many pause for a few minutes at the daily 17:00 New York rollover when swaps are charged.

Does this clock handle daylight saving time?

Yes. Each session is defined by wall-clock hours in its own city, so when the UK or US switch clocks the sessions shift correctly in your local time. Note that the London–New York overlap is one hour shorter for a few weeks each spring and autumn while the two regions are out of sync.

Are public holidays included?

No. Forex stays open on most national holidays but liquidity drops sharply (for example US Thanksgiving or UK bank holidays). Stock index CFDs follow their exchange's holiday calendar. Check your broker's holiday schedule for exact hours.

Forex Market Hours Clock: Sydney, Tokyo, London, New York

How to use the session clock

The clock reads your device's time zone and converts the four major sessions into your own hours. The big status at the top tells you whether the market is open and which cities are active; the overlap banner highlights the busiest hours; and the 24-hour timeline shows at a glance how today maps onto the global trading day.

Why sessions matter

Spreads tighten when more banks are active. EUR/USD is cheapest during the London–New York overlap and widest in the hour after New York closes.
Volatility clusters around session opens and major data releases (UK 07:00, US 08:30 Eastern). If your strategy needs range, trade the overlap; if it needs calm, look at late Asia.
Swaps are charged at the 17:00 New York rollover, with a triple charge on Wednesdays at most brokers. Holding through that minute costs more than holding through any other.

Combine with other tools

Check how much a one-percent move costs at your leverage in the Leverage & Margin Simulator, and compare which brokers keep spreads tight across all sessions with Compare Brokers.

Trading Session Clock

How to use the session clock

Why sessions matter

Combine with other tools

Frequently asked questions

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