The forex market is a decentralized financial market where traders from all over the world buy and sell currencies. It operates 24 hours a day, five days a week, giving traders the opportunity to make trades at any time. The forex market is divided into four major trading sessions: the Asian session, the European session, the North American session, and the Pacific session. Each session has its own unique characteristics, with different trading volumes, volatility, and liquidity. In this article, we will focus on the Asian session and answer the question: What time does the forex Asian market open?
The Asian session is the first major trading session of the forex market, and it starts at 9:00 PM GMT and ends at 6:00 AM GMT. It is also referred to as the Tokyo session, as the Tokyo Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in Asia, and it is located in Japan. The Asian session is followed by the European session, the North American session, and finally, the Pacific session.
The Asian session is known for its low volatility and low trading volume, compared to the other major trading sessions. However, it still presents trading opportunities for traders who prefer to trade during the quieter hours of the market. The Asian session can be divided into three sub-sessions: the Tokyo session, the Singapore session, and the Hong Kong session.
The Tokyo session is the most active sub-session of the Asian session, and it starts at 00:00 AM GMT and ends at 9:00 AM GMT. It is also the most volatile sub-session, as it overlaps with the end of the New York session and the beginning of the European session. During this time, traders can expect high trading volumes and high volatility, especially for the Japanese yen and the Australian dollar.
The Singapore session is the second sub-session of the Asian session, and it starts at 2:00 AM GMT and ends at 11:00 AM GMT. It is the smallest sub-session, and it is known for its low liquidity and low volatility. However, it still presents trading opportunities for traders who prefer to trade exotic currencies, such as the Singapore dollar, the Malaysian ringgit, and the Indonesian rupiah.
The Hong Kong session is the third sub-session of the Asian session, and it starts at 3:00 AM GMT and ends at 12:00 PM GMT. It is the second most active sub-session, after the Tokyo session, and it is known for its high liquidity and low volatility. During this time, traders can expect high trading volumes for the Chinese yuan and the Hong Kong dollar.
In conclusion, the forex Asian market opens at 9:00 PM GMT and closes at 6:00 AM GMT, and it is divided into three sub-sessions: the Tokyo session, the Singapore session, and the Hong Kong session. The Asian session is known for its low volatility and low trading volume, compared to the other major trading sessions. However, it still presents trading opportunities for traders who prefer to trade during the quieter hours of the market. Traders should be aware of the different sub-sessions and their unique characteristics to make informed trading decisions.
