Forex Market Hours and Trading Sessions
Forex is a decentralised market, which operates through various financial centres of the world. Since these financial centres are located in different time zones, for all account types the Forex market is open 24 hours a day, five days a week from 00:00:30 (GMT+2) Mondays till 23:57:59 (GMT+2) Fridays. Every day from 23:59:00 (GMT+2) till 01:00:00 (GMT+2) there is a break in the market. Friday is the last day of the currency markets operation, because large market participants, including various financial institutions, large funds, companies and banks, are leaving for the weekend.
Trading Hours
Since Justforex broker offers trading not only FX currencies pairs, but also indices, shares, metals, energies and futures, trading hours of a single trading instrument may differ. Here is the table how Justforex trading tools open and close:
| Name | Monday (GMT+2) | Tuesday (GMT+2) | Wednesday (GMT+2) | Thursday (GMT+2) | Friday (GMT+2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All FX pairs | 00:01-23:59 | 00:01-23:59 | 00:01-23:59 | 00:01-23:59 | 00:01-23:58 |
| Name | Monday (GMT+2) | Tuesday (GMT+2) | Wednesday (GMT+2) | Thursday (GMT+2) | Friday (GMT+2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAGEUR | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:58 |
| XAUAUD | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:58 |
| XAUEUR | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:58 |
| XPDUSD | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:58 |
| XPTUSD | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:58 |
| XAUCHF | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:58 |
| XAGUSD | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:58 |
| XAUUSD | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:58 |
| Name | Monday (GMT+2) | Tuesday (GMT+2) | Wednesday (GMT+2) | Thursday (GMT+2) | Friday (GMT+2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU200 | 01:50-08:30, 09:10-22:59 | 01:50-08:30, 09:10-22:59 | 01:50-08:30, 09:10-22:59 | 01:50-08:30, 09:10-22:59 | 01:50-08:30, 09:10-22:58 |
| DE30 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-22:58 |
| ES35 | 10:00-20:59 | 10:00-20:59 | 10:00-20:59 | 10:00-20:59 | 10:00-20:58 |
| EU50 | 09:00-22:59 | 09:00-22:59 | 09:00-22:59 | 09:00-22:59 | 09:00-22:58 |
| FR40 | 09:00-22:59 | 09:00-22:59 | 09:00-22:59 | 09:00-22:59 | 09:00-22:58 |
| HK50 | 04:15-07:00, 08:00-11:30, 12:15-19:59 | 04:15-07:00, 08:00-11:30, 12:15-19:59 | 04:15-07:00, 08:00-11:30, 12:15-19:59 | 04:15-07:00, 08:00-11:30, 12:15-19:59 | 04:15-07:00, 08:00-11:30, 12:15-19:58 |
| JP225 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:58 |
| UK100 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-22:58 |
| US100 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:58 |
| US30 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:58 |
| US500 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:59 | 01:00-23:15, 23:30-23:58 |
| Name | Monday (GMT+2) | Tuesday (GMT+2) | Wednesday (GMT+2) | Thursday (GMT+2) | Friday (GMT+2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRENT | 01:00-23:59 | 03:00-23:59 | 03:00-23:59 | 03:00-23:59 | 03:00-23:58 |
| WTI | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:59 | 01:00-23:58 |
Justforex is constantly improving its services and expanding the range of trading instruments, so only the main tools are indicated above, and the list may be not full. If you haven't found the necessary tool in the table above, you may always check its working time in the MT4/MT5 trading terminal → Specification of the needed trading instrument.
Also, please note that the working hours of a trading instrument may change due to holidays or other reasons. We publish all the changes of the trading schedule in Our news section.
Trading Sessions
Depending on the time of trading, the foreign exchange market is divided into trading sessions. Forex trading sessions differ not only in their name and special work schedule but are also characterised by some trading features. In each session, there is a "special" currency characterised by high volatility, which is influenced by fundamental economic factors.
| Session | City | Open (EET*) | Close (EET*) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific | Sydney | 0:00 | 9:00 |
| Asian | Tokyo | 2:00-3:00 | 11:00-12:00 |
| European | London | 10:00 | 19:00 |
| American | New York | 15:00-16:00 | 0:00-1:00 |
* Eastern European time: GMT+2 winter; GMT+3 summer
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Pacific trading session
Forex starts its working hours when the Pacific session opens on Monday local time. This session is characterised by rather low volatility, and, as a matter of fact, this is the most peaceful time on the market.
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Asian trading session
The Asian session follows the Pacific session. Currency pairs that include USD, EUR, JPY, and AUD are traded actively during this period. The trading activity of AUD is caused by the intersection of the working time of this session with the Pacific one.
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European trading session
The opening of the European session starts in financial centres such as those in Frankfurt, Zürich, and Paris. However, trading gets more active only after trading starts in London. There is usually a recession during lunchtime, and the activity restarts by evening. Fairly strong volatility may be noticed during the European session because the European zone has a sufficiently large amount of money turnover.
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American trading session
The most active time on the foreign exchange market is the beginning of the American session because it reaches the opening of trading in New York and the renewal of trading in Europe. Fundamental news of high importance is released at the beginning of the American session. It is characterised by sufficient aggressiveness especially on Friday before the trading is closed.
How to Use This Info in Practice?
- The highest activity of traders falls on the European and American sessions, so this is the best time to trade. During this period, most transactions are carried out, and trading spreads are the lowest.
- You may also notice that some trading sessions overlap, so during these hours, volatility is usually the highest.
- In the Asian session, the largest number of transactions is made with the Japanese yen.
- Activity in the European session falls on two periods: 10:00-14:00 and 15:00-19:00.
- Be careful during the "thin" market – a transitional time between sessions when liquidity is not enough to maintain a stable price chart, i.e. strong impulses are possible.
- In the days of the New Year rally, significant banks and exchanges are closed for holidays; companies withdraw funds for summing up the results and reporting. This is a long "thin" market when you need to be extremely careful.
- A gap often follows the market opening after the weekend, so we recommend you to protect orders with Stop Loss and Take Profit or even to close all positions on Friday.
Trading Schedule Changes
Trading schedules may change due to holidays such as Christmas, US Independence Day, Labour Day, etc. During some holidays, when markets are closed, trading is not carried out at all. In other cases, market hours may be shifted.
Justforex always publishes the updated trading schedule if something in market hours changes in the News section. Please follow our news to always stay on top. We recommend you to take trading schedule changes into account as you may need to revise your trading strategies if, for example, low liquidity is expected in the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When the Forex market is open?
The Forex market is open 24 hours a day, five days a week from 00:00:30 (GMT+2) Mondays till 23:57:59 (GMT+2) Fridays.
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Why is Forex closed on weekend?
Friday is the last day of the currency markets operation, because large market participants, including various financial institutions, large funds, companies and banks, are leaving for the weekend.
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What are Forex trading sessions?There are four main Forex trading sessions:
- Pacific trading session – 00:00-09:00 (EET);
- Asian trading session – 02:00-12:00 (EET);
- European trading session – 10:00-19:00 (EET);
- American trading session – 15:00-01:00 (EET).
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What is EET?
EET means Eastern European Time: GMT+2 in winter, GMT+3 in summer.
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What is the best time of the day to trade on Forex?
The highest activity of traders falls on the European and American sessions, so this is the best time to trade. During this period, most transactions are carried out, and trading spreads are the lowest.
