Article

Forex Market Hours

Updated 4 Nov 2025
Forex market hours refer to the continuous 24-hour, five-day trading cycle of the global currency market. The market operates from Monday to Friday, following the opening of the Sydney session and ending with the close of the New York session. It is divided into four key trading sessions—Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York—each influencing market activity and volatility. Understanding these sessions helps traders identify the best times to trade forex based on liquidity and overlapping hours.

Key Takeaways

  • The forex market runs 24 hours a day, five days a week across sessions:
    Tokyo (00:00–09:00 GMT), London (08:00–16:00 GMT), and New York (13:00–22:00 GMT).

  • Liquidity and typically tighter spreads peak during session overlaps
    (especially London–New York), while major news can trigger sharp volatility and wider spreads.

  • Session traits differ: Tokyo sees higher activity in JPY and Asia-Pacific pairs, London is the largest
    and most liquid window, and New York starts highly liquid then tapers after London closes.

  • Forex is an OTC interbank market where banks and market makers quote bids/asks and brokers
    aggregate prices from multiple liquidity providers.

  • Volatility varies by pair and session (majors steadier than exotics), so align trading time with
    your strategy and use tools like economic calendars and news feeds to manage risk.


Forex market hours chart showing London, New York, Sydney, and Tokyo session timings in GMT.


Forex Market Opening Time

Forex market hours runs 24 hours a day, five days a week, from Sunday evening until Friday night, due to time zone difference. This round-the-clock market is divided into several major trading sessions based on geographic regions:

  • Sydney session opens from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM GMT

  • Tokyo session opens from 12:00 AM to 9:00 AM GMT

  • London session opens from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM GMT

  • New York session opens from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM GMT


This rotation ensures that traders around the world can always find an active market. 


Sydney Session Forex Time 

The Sydney session opens at 10:00PM and closes at 7:00 AM GMT, marking the official start of the global trading week. It is often quieter compared to other sessions but plays a vital role in setting the early tome for price action.


Trading activity is mediocre, with the most movement usually with AUD/USD and NZD/USD. This session is traditionally for Asia-Pacific traders to react to weekend developments and adjust accordingly.


Tokyo Session Forex Time 

The Tokyo session forex time opens at 12:00 AM and closes at 9:00 AM GMT.  This period represents the start of the trading day and is one of the most active sessions in the Asia-Pacific region.
It is one of the largest forex trading centers globally, responsible for around 20% of all forex transactions. During this session, pairs involving the Japanese yen (JPY) and Asia-Pacific currencies, such as the AUD/USD, are typically more active. 


The Tokyo session generally experience moderate volatility and smaller price movements compared to the European or US sessions, making it suitable for traders who prefer steadier market conditions.

 

London Session Forex Time

The London session forex time begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 4:00 PM GMT. London is the world's largest forex trading hub, accounting for about 35% of global forex transactions. Due to the high volume of trades during this session, forex spreads are narrower, particularly for major currency pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD.  

 

However, the session is also known for its volatility, providing opportunities for traders seeking to capitalize on price swings


Because London overlaps with both the Tokyo and New York sessions, it serves as the most active and influential part of forex trading day.

 

New York Session Forex Time

The New York session forex time opens at 1:00 PM and closes at 10:00 PM GMT. Thanks to the overlap with the London session, there is significant liquidity at the start of this session.  It also leads to larger pip movements in pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD.

 

As the day progresses and the London market closes, liquidity typically decreases, and the market may experience less volatility. 

 

Best Time to Trade Forex on TMGM

The best time to trade forex depends on volatility, liquidity, and your forex trading strategy. Not every hour offers equal opportunity just because the market runs 24 hours a day.


For forex traders looking to maximize their opportunities, the best time to trade forex is during periods of high market activity, particularly during the overlaps between sessions.  

 

The London and New York sessions (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM GMT)overlap the most, offering high liquidity and tighter spreads. Major currency pairs can move 70-120 pips on average during this window, compared to 30-50 pips in quieter hours. On the other hand, the Tokyo forex market trading session has slightly less trading activity. And many western traders do not even know hwat time does the Sydney forex market open.


There are several factors to consider when deciding the best time to trade forex. Trading strategies, economic news (events like interest rate decisions), and the trader's own personal time zone are factors to take into consideration.


Forex Trading with TMGM

The foreign exchange (forex) market is the most liquid financial market in the world, with an estimated daily trading volume of over $7 trillion, and forex market hours can span the entire work week. Forex trading involves buying and selling currencies to profit from changes in exchange rates.  

 

Unlike stocks traded on centralized exchanges, forex is traded over-the-counter (OTC). This means that there is no central physical exchange, and currencies can be traded virtually anywhere and anytime. This makes for much more expansive forex market hours—essentially 24 hours a day during weekdays. 

What is Forex Trading

Forex trading, also known as foreign exchange trading, involves the exchange of one currency for another in the global marketplace. It is the largest and most liquid financial market, operating 24 hours a day, five days a week. Forex traders speculate on currency price movements to make a profit, often using market analysis and forex trading strategies. 

 

What is CFD Trading in Forex

Forex CFD (Contract for Difference) trading allows you to speculate on the price movements of currency pairs in different forex market hours without owning the underlying currencies. 

When trading forex CFDs on TMGM , you enter into a contract with the forex broker, agreeing to exchange the difference in the price currency pair from when the contract is opened to when it is closed. If the price move in your favor, you profit; if it moves against you, you incur a loss




What is Volatility in Forex?

Volatility in forex refers to the degree of price fluctuations within a certain period. It measures how much and how quickly a currency’s price changes. High volatility indicates larger and more rapid price swings, while low volatility suggests smaller and more gradual changes. It is often measured in pips, representing the smallest price move in a currency pair.  

 

On TMGM, you can trade a wide range of currency pairs – over 50 forex pairs – each with varying levels of volatility. Major pairs, such as EUR/USD, tend to have lower volatility than exotic pairs like USD/TRY, which can exhibit significant price swings due to lower liquidity. 

Table of major, minor, and exotic forex pairs for different forex market sessions.


Factors Influencing Volatility in Forex

Volatility during specific forex market hours can be influenced by various factors, including economic events, geopolitical developments, and central bank policies. For example, interest rate changes or unexpected political events can lead to sharp price movements in currency pairs.  

 

Traders on TMGM can use advanced tools, such as economic calendars and market news feeds, to stay informed and manage their positions effectively. 

Infographic explaining increased volatility and liquidity during overlapping forex market sessions.

Trading Forex CFDs on TMGM

TMGM offers a comprehensive trading environment for forex CFD trading, with access to over 50 currency pairs, including majors, minors, and exotics across all forex market hours.


The platform provides competitive spreads, low-margin requirements, and advanced trading tools, making it suitable for beginners and experienced traders.


Enhanced Trading with TMGM’s VPS Hosting

For traders looking to optimize their forex trading strategies and make the most out of the forex market hours, TMGM offers Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting. Forex VPS hosting allows you to run your trading platforms on a remote server, such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5). This setup ensures that your trading platform remains connected to the internet 24/7, providing ultra-low latency and reducing the risk of interruptions due to local power outages or connectivity issues.


By using a forex VPS with TMGM, you can execute trades faster, which is crucial in a fast-paced market like forex. This service is particularly beneficial for traders who use automated trading strategies, such as Expert Advisors (EAs), as it ensures that your algorithms can run continuously without downtime.


Additionally, TMGM’s VPS hosting is close to major liquidity providers, further reducing latency and improving trade execution times.


Whether you're a professional trader looking to gain a competitive edge or a beginner aiming to optimize your trading performance during forex market hours, TMGM’s VPS hosting provides the reliability and speed you need to execute your strategies effectively.


High-tech Forex VPS server room representing the infrastructure behind 24/5 global forex market operations.

Getting Started with TMGM

If you're new to forex trading, TMGM offers educational resources, including articleswebinars, and demo accounts, to help you understand the basics.


For more advanced traders, the platform provides access to sophisticated analysis tools, such as technical indicators such as MACDRSIFibonacci and charting software, enabling you to refine your forex trading strategies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When does the forex market open and close each week?

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What are the main trading sessions and when do they overlap?

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What is the best time to trade major currency pairs?

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