The foreign exchange market, commonly known as the forex market, is a decentralized global market where currencies are traded. It is the largest and most liquid financial market in the world, with an average daily turnover of over $5 trillion. Due to its global nature, the forex market is open 24 hours a day, five days a week. However, there are specific market hours that are considered the most active and volatile, and traders tend to focus on these times for trading.
Forex market hours are divided into four major trading sessions: the Sydney session, the Tokyo session, the London session, and the New York session. These sessions are named after the major financial centers that they represent. The forex market opens on Sunday at 5 pm EST and closes on Friday at 5 pm EST. However, the market is not open for trading 24 hours a day during the week. Here is a breakdown of the forex market hours for each session:
Sydney Session (10 pm – 7 am EST)
The Sydney session is the first to open, and it is typically considered the quietest session of the day. This is because there is little economic news released during this time, and most of the major financial centers are closed. The currency pairs that are most actively traded during this session are AUD/USD, NZD/USD, and USD/JPY.
Tokyo Session (12 am – 9 am EST)
The Tokyo session is the second to open, and it is considered the most active session of the Asian trading hours. This is because Japan is the world’s third-largest forex trading center, and the session overlaps with the Sydney session. The currency pairs that are most actively traded during this session are USD/JPY, EUR/JPY, and GBP/JPY.
London Session (3 am – 12 pm EST)
The London session is the third to open, and it is considered the most active session of the day. This is because London is the world’s largest forex trading center, accounting for almost 40% of the global forex trading volume. The currency pairs that are most actively traded during this session are EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and EUR/GBP.
New York Session (8 am – 5 pm EST)
The New York session is the last to open, and it is considered the most active session of the day in terms of volatility. This is because it overlaps with the London session, and together they account for almost 70% of the global forex trading volume. The currency pairs that are most actively traded during this session are USD/JPY, EUR/USD, and GBP/USD.
It is important to note that while the forex market is open 24 hours a day, not all currency pairs are active during all trading sessions. For example, the AUD/USD pair may be very active during the Sydney session, but it may be less active during the New York session. Therefore, it is essential to understand which currency pairs are most active during each session to take advantage of the most liquid trading opportunities.
In conclusion, the forex market is open 24 hours a day, five days a week, and is divided into four major trading sessions: the Sydney session, the Tokyo session, the London session, and the New York session. Each session has its own characteristics and trading opportunities, and it is essential to understand which currency pairs are most active during each session to maximize profits. Traders should also be aware of any economic news releases that may impact currency pairs during these trading sessions.
