The forex market runs 24 hours a day, 5 days a week—but that doesn’t mean every hour offers the same opportunity. In this lesson, we break down the best time to trade forex, based on the major market sessions and overlapping hours where volume and volatility peak.
Understanding forex market hours is essential for timing your trades and maximizing efficiency.
The global forex market is divided into three primary trading sessions:
This session includes markets like Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore. During this time, the market typically moves in tight ranges, with lower volatility. You’ll see more activity in pairs like USD/JPY and EUR/JPY. These quiet movements often lead to price breakouts later in the day.
As London opens, volatility increases significantly. Around 30% of all forex transactions occur during this session. Major currency pairs such as EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/CHF see more action. Activity tends to slow around midday as traders prepare for the U.S. session.
When New York opens, it overlaps with London for several hours. This overlap period is the best time to trade forex—market liquidity and volatility are at their highest. As the London market closes around 5 PM GMT, traders often close positions, creating sharp movements in price.
After 5 PM GMT, the market typically becomes quieter until the Asian session begins again.
The overlap between the European and U.S. sessions (12 PM – 4 PM GMT) is considered the most active and liquid trading window. This period offers the best combination of price movement, volume, and opportunity for profit.
While the market is open 24 hours, your success depends on understanding when specific sessions create the most favorable conditions for your strategy.
At PROP365, we help traders navigate the market with precision and know the best time to trade forex. Whether you're trading London open or targeting U.S. session volatility, understanding forex market sessions is the first step toward building a profitable trading routine.
Stay Updated – Subscribe Now
Disclosure: All information provided on this site is intended solely for educational purposes related to trading on financial markets and does not serve as a specific investment recommendation. This is not an investment opportunity. You do not deposit any funds for investment. We do not ask for any funds for investment. There are no promises of rewards or returns. It’s crucial to differentiate between purchasing a program from PROP365 and depositing in a financial institution. The fees you pay for our programs are not deposits. PROP365 does not offer financial advice or issue or deal in financial products. All trading will occur on demo accounts under simulated live trading conditions. All funds are simulated trading funds, and all profits are simulated profits.
© 2025 Brynex Tech Limited. All Rights Reserved.