The forex market trades 24 hours a day on weekdays, but liquidity and volatility come in waves as financial centres open and close.
Main sessions (approximate, UTC)
- Asia (Tokyo): 00:00 – 09:00 — calmer, JPY and AUD pairs are most active.
- London: 07:00 – 16:00 — the most liquid session; EUR, GBP and CHF pairs move most.
- New York: 12:00 – 21:00 — USD pairs, indices and oil; high volatility around US data.
- London/New York overlap: 12:00 – 16:00 — often the busiest hours of the day.
Choosing your session
Pick one session that fits your schedule and stick to it. Consistency in timing makes your statistics meaningful and your routine easier to follow.