Forex Trading Sessions
Learn about the Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York trading sessions and when to trade.
Last reviewed: 2026-03-06
Article content
Overview
The forex market is open 24 hours from Sunday evening to Friday evening (UTC). It never sleeps, but liquidity and volatility vary by session. The four main sessions are Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York. Each opens and closes at different times, with overlaps when two sessions are active—typically the busiest and most liquid periods.
Session Times
Sydney opens around 22:00 UTC Sunday. Tokyo follows at 00:00 UTC. London opens at 08:00 UTC. New York opens at 13:00 UTC. The London–New York overlap (13:00–17:00 UTC) is the most active, with the highest volume and tightest spreads on major pairs. Asian session (Tokyo) is best for JPY pairs.
When To Trade
Trade during session overlaps for the most liquidity and narrowest spreads. Avoid low-liquidity periods (e.g. late Friday New York, early Monday Sydney) when spreads can widen. Match your trading style to the session: scalpers prefer London/NY overlap; swing traders care less about session timing.
FAQ
Common questions about this topic.
When does the forex market open?
Forex opens Sunday evening (around 22:00 UTC) when Sydney opens and closes Friday evening when New York closes.
What is the best time to trade forex?
The London–New York overlap (13:00–17:00 UTC) typically offers the highest liquidity and tightest spreads on major pairs.
Which session is best for JPY pairs?
The Tokyo session (Asian session) is when JPY pairs like USD/JPY and EUR/JPY see the most activity and tightest spreads.
Related articles
Continue learning with these topics.
Disclaimer and sources
Educational content only. Not financial advice.
Important disclaimer
Forex trading involves risk. This content is for educational purposes only.