Forex Market Sessions
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Module 1 · Lesson 215 min

Forex Market Sessions

Learn about the four major trading sessions and their characteristics.

Forex Market Sessions

Forex Trading Sessions — 24-hour world clock

Forex Market Sessions — When to Trade

Because the earth is round and the sun is always shining somewhere, forex is open around the clock. As one country goes to sleep, another wakes up and opens for business. This creates four main trading sessions.

🌍 Think of it like a relay race
Sydney passes the baton to Tokyo, Tokyo passes to London, London passes to New York — and then it starts again. The forex market never stops Mon–Fri.

The Four Sessions (all times in GMT)

  • 🇦🇺 Sydney Session — 22:00 to 07:00
    Quiet start to the week. Low volume. Good for AUD/USD and NZD/USD pairs.
  • 🇯🇵 Tokyo Session — 00:00 to 09:00
    Asian markets come alive. USD/JPY and EUR/JPY move most here. Moderate volume.
  • 🇬🇧 London Session — 08:00 to 17:00
    The busiest session — London is the world's biggest forex centre. EUR/USD and GBP/USD are most active. Tightest spreads.
  • 🇺🇸 New York Session — 13:00 to 22:00
    Second busiest. All USD pairs move aggressively especially when US economic data is released.

The Magic Hours — Session Overlaps

When two sessions are open at the same time, volume doubles and price moves become bigger. These are the best times for most traders:

  • 08:00–09:00 GMT (Tokyo + London open) — EUR/JPY often spikes. Watch for news.
  • 13:00–17:00 GMT (London + New York overlap) — 🏆 The best time to trade. Highest volume. Tightest spreads. Most predictable moves.

When NOT to Trade

  • 22:00–07:00 GMT — Low volume, wide spreads, unpredictable moves. Beginners should avoid this window.
  • Friday afternoon after 18:00 GMT — Traders close positions before the weekend. Spreads widen.
  • Major public holidays — Christmas Day, New Year's Day etc. Markets are almost dead.
✅ Beginner Rule
Trade only during the London session (08:00–17:00 GMT) or the London/New York overlap (13:00–17:00 GMT). This is when EUR/USD has the tightest spreads and cleanest moves.
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