The Forex market operates 24 hours a day, five days a week—but not all trading hours offer the same level of opportunity. Knowing when to trade can often be the difference between a solid strategy and an avoidable loss. For those new to trading, a good starting point is learning how to select the right broker and platform. If you’re looking to trade with a reliable platform, here’s a guide how to open exness account to get you started with one of the leading brokers in the industry.

It’s common to see beginners on platforms like Babypips asking, “When does Forex market open?” or “What’s the best time to trade during the London session?” These are valid questions, especially for those looking to trade during high-volume hours or avoid low-liquidity periods.

In this article, we’ll break down how Forex market hours work, highlight the most active trading sessions, and help you choose the best time to trade based on your preferred currency pairs and risk tolerance.

Forex market hours refer to the specific times when participants around the world are actively trading currencies. Since the Forex market doesn’t operate through a centralized exchange, trading moves from one major financial hub to another across global time zones. The cycle begins in , followed by , , , and finally — ensuring the market stays open 24 hours a day, five days a week.

Not all trading hours offer the same potential. Each session has distinct characteristics in terms of , , and .

The Tokyo session opens the global trading week and is often characterized by , making it ideal for . However, sudden volatility can arise from news out of Japan, Australia, or China. Institutions also set positions for the day during this time.

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The London session dominates global Forex volume, handling nearly . With deep liquidity and sharp price moves — especially around key UK and EU economic releases — it provides fertile ground for traders chasing trends, news-based volatility, or tight spreads.

. European traders often react to , leading to whipsaw movements at the start of this session. This is also when bank and fund rebalancing begins.

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The New York session is heavily driven by , Federal Reserve updates, and earnings reports. It overlaps with the London session for four hours — often the most in a trader’s day. About flows during this overlap.

. EUR/USD often establishes the during this overlap period. Intraday volatility can spike on U.S. CPI, NFP, or FOMC days.

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Although Sydney is quieter compared to other sessions, it’s where the week begins. This session is often used by institutional traders to , especially in commodities-heavy currencies like AUD and NZD.

. Sydney often sets support and resistance levels for the Asian session and can offer low-risk entries before the Tokyo session volatility.

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If you’re trading EUR/USD — the most liquid currency pair in the world — the best time is during the . Liquidity and volatility peak here, offering ideal conditions for or .

Avoid trading this pair during the , as liquidity dries up and spreads often widen — making it harder to manage risk or execute precise entries.

. Set alerts around Eurozone releases at 08.00–09.00 GMT and U.S. economic news at 13.30 GMT. These are common volatility triggers.

While understanding trading sessions is crucial, maximizing your success in those hours depends on to adapt to changing market conditions. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective ones:

These tools help you determine , allowing you to focus your trades during times of movement.

Volume confirms the strength of a price move. Although spot Forex doesn’t have a centralized exchange, (number of price changes per candle) is a helpful proxy.

Momentum indicators help you decide whether it’s worth jumping into a move during a session—or waiting for a better entry.

Identifying key price zones during different sessions helps plan trades with better risk-reward.

These tools help and plan entries based on session behavior.

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Understanding how price behavior changes across different can help traders align strategies with periods of higher liquidity, tighter spreads, and increased volatility. A time-based trading strategy involves matching specific currency pairs to active sessions and capitalizing on known patterns within those windows.

For traders trading in Naira, understanding market hours is key to successfully executing trades when liquidity is high and volatility is in your favor. Adjusting your strategy to include could enhance trading results during specific sessions.

Each trading session has its own tempo and specializes in different currencies. Knowing which pairs perform best during each time block is key.

Session overlaps provide some of the most liquid and volatile trading windows.

Traders often struggle during low-volume periods — especially the . This is sometimes referred to as the due to wider spreads, fewer participants, and erratic price moves.

Before applying a time-based approach live, it’s crucial to test it using historical price data:

• Pay attention to win rate, average volatility, and slippage across different time windows.

Trading during high-volatility periods — such as the or after major announcements — can offer big opportunities, but it also carries greater risk. Even seasoned traders can face sudden losses if they aren’t properly prepared. To stay protected while making the most of active , follow these essential tips:

No matter how confident you are in a setup, the market can move against you in seconds — especially during volatile hours. Setting a is not optional; it’s a critical tool to limit downside risk. Make sure your stop aligns with recent support/resistance levels or volatility readings like ATR, rather than arbitrary numbers.

Events like , , or can cause sharp, unpredictable price swings. Unless you’re highly experienced in trading news, it’s safer to wait until the market digests the release before entering a position. Sites like and offer economic calendars so you can plan ahead.

. If you do trade during news events, reduce your position size and use wider stop-loss levels to account for volatility spikes.

Each Forex session — , , or — has its own rhythm. New traders often struggle when jumping between sessions without adapting their strategy. Stick to one session that fits your lifestyle and trading style. For example:

• Prefer range trading? The may suit you.
• Prefer strong moves and volume? Focus on or the .

Building session-specific habits will improve your discipline and edge over time.

Before risking real capital, test your strategy during specific using platforms like , , or the . This helps you understand how your system performs during volatile times and which sessions yield better results.

Backtesting can also help you fine-tune your entry, stop-loss, and take-profit levels to better match session volatility.

As per our expert Anastasiia Chabaniuk, forget what the textbooks say — what matters is when the big players quietly close shop. If you’re trading USD/JPY, keep an eye on the last stretch of the Tokyo session. Around 08.30–09.00 JST, Japanese institutions often start adjusting their orders before liquidity dries up. It’s like a soft ripple in the market, not a wave — but that’s where the clean entries hide. Especially on Fridays, these quiet adjustments can create surprisingly reliable setups. Most retail traders miss it because they’re busy waiting for the loud action during the London session.

Here’s something I learned the hard way: just before London opens, the market loves to fake it. You’ll see EUR/USD spike up or down for no reason, only to reverse the moment real volume kicks in. That’s not momentum — it’s bait. Brokers and algos know that eager traders pile in early, so they whip price just enough to trigger stops. The real move usually shows itself after the first hourly candle of London closes. Wait for that. It’s more honest, more stable, and often lines up beautifully with trend continuation setups.

Mastering the timing of your trades is just as important as understanding technical setups. The Forex market hours offer a 24-hour cycle of opportunity — but only if you align your strategy with the right session. Whether you’re trading the high-volatility London–New York overlap or the quieter Asian session, success often comes down to choosing the time that matches your currency pairs and risk profile. Platforms like Babypips and Forex Factory can help you fine-tune your schedule, but the real edge lies in observing how price behaves in specific windows—and adjusting accordingly. Remember, the market rewards timing, patience, and session-based discipline more than round-the-clock activity. Stick to your window, respect the rhythm, and trade when the market is speaking your language.

The Forex market officially closes at 22.00 GMT on Friday and remains closed throughout the weekend. However, geopolitical news and economic developments over the weekend can cause gaps at the Sunday open, especially during the Sydney session.

The London session and the London/New York overlap (13:00–17:00 GMT) are generally considered the best due to high liquidity and major economic releases.

Leaving trades open overnight means exposing positions to swap/rollover fees and overnight volatility, particularly during low liquidity periods. Traders should review session behavior and use stop-losses carefully when positions carry over between sessions.

Babypips offers educational tools, session trackers, and trading strategies that help beginners understand optimal trading times and how to navigate the Forex market effectively.

About the author

This article was written by Mikhail Vnuchkov, a financial author at Traders Union since 2020. Beginning his career in 2015 as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, Mikhail covered global economic events and their impact on financial investments, including investor income. With over five years of experience in finance, he joined the Traders Union team, focusing on delivering up-to-date news for traders dealing with stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments, and fixed income. Mikhail specializes in behavioral finance, investing, Forex trading, and brokerage services. ​