Introduction

The forex market is a unique, truly global financial arena—open 24 hours a day, five days a week. Unlike stock markets, forex never sleeps during the weekdays. Yet many traders often ask: “When does the forex market open?” Knowing trading hours and session overlaps is essential for planning trades, managing risk, and taking advantage of liquidity when it matters most.

When Does the Forex Market Open


The Four Major Forex Trading Sessions

Session GMT (UTC) EST (New York) PST (Pakistan Standard Time)
Sydney 21:00 – 06:00 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM 2:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Tokyo 00:00 – 09:00 7:00 PM – 4:00 AM 5:00 AM – 2:00 PM
London 07:00 – 16:00 3:00 AM – 12:00 PM 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
New York 13:00 – 22:00 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM 6:00 PM – 3:00 AM

Best Time to Trade Forex

The most active periods—offering tighter spreads and higher liquidity—occur during session overlaps:

London–New York overlap (8 AM – 12 PM EST) brings the heaviest volumes, especially in major pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD 
Other notable overlaps:
  • London–Tokyo (~3 AM – 4 AM EST)
  • Tokyo–Sydney (~7 PM – 2 AM EST)

Why Market Hours Matter

Liquidity & Volatility: Higher during overlaps, often leading to sharper moves and better trading opportunities.

Spreads: Typically tighter in active hours, reducing transaction costs.

Risk Management: Awareness of session boundaries helps avoid sudden gaps—like the weekend gap between Friday’s close and Sunday’s open

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the forex market open on weekends?

No—retail trading ends Friday at 5 PM EST and resumes Sunday at 5 PM EST. Gaps can occur due to price shifts over the break 

2. What is the best time to trade EUR/USD?

During the London–New York overlap (8 AM–12 PM EST)—this period offers peak liquidity and tight spreads for major EUR/USD moves .

3. Why is the forex market closed today?

It may be the weekend (before Sunday 5 PM EST) or a holiday where liquidity is low due to regional closures—even though the global market structure remains open in some parts

Though the forex market never truly sleeps during the trading week, understanding when it opens and closes and knowing which sessions are active when can power smarter, more strategic trades.
Need help using RSI strategy during London–New York overlap? Check out our detailed RSI Strategy Guide