Forex trading sessions run 24 hours a day from Sunday evening to Friday evening, rotating through four major financial centres: Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York. The exact hours can shift by one hour when daylight saving time changes, so UTC is the safest reference. On September 20, 2026, the sessions follow the approximate Eastern Time schedule shown below.
Forex Trading Session Times
Typical Session Times in UTC
| Forex session | Typical UTC hours | Main market |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 21:00 to 06:00 or 22:00 to 07:00 | Australia and New Zealand |
| Tokyo | 00:00 to 09:00 | Japan and Asia |
| London | 07:00 to 16:00 or 08:00 to 17:00 | Europe |
| New York | 12:00 to 21:00 or 13:00 to 22:00 | United States and Canada |
These are standard forex session windows based on the opening hours of major financial centres. The over-the-counter foreign exchange market has no central exchange. Trading activity moves between financial centres as their local markets open and close.
Forex Session Times in U.S. Eastern Time
On September 20, 2026, the United States and United Kingdom will be observing daylight saving time, while Sydney will be on standard time. The approximate session hours will be:
| Forex session | U.S. Eastern Time |
|---|---|
| Sydney | 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. |
| Tokyo | 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. |
| London | 3:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. |
| New York | 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
Sydney, London and New York can each move by one hour during parts of the year because Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States change their clocks on different dates.
When Do Forex Trading Sessions Overlap?
Session overlaps occur when two major financial centres are open at the same time.
| Overlap | Approximate current U.S. Eastern Time | Typical significance |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney and Tokyo | 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. | Asian-Pacific trading activity |
| Tokyo and London | 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. | Transition from Asia to Europe |
| London and New York | 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Often the most active period for major currency pairs |
The London and New York overlap is generally the busiest forex trading window because it combines two of the market's largest trading centres. The Bank for International Settlements identifies the London open and the London-New York overlap as periods when FX liquidity is typically highest.
Is the Forex Market Open 24 Hours?
The spot forex market is generally available throughout the business week, but it closes over the weekend. Retail brokers may use their own opening, closing, rollover and holiday schedules.
Exchange-traded FX products follow a set timetable. CME Group FX futures normally trade from 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Sunday to 4:00 p.m. Central Time on Friday, with a daily 60-minute break.
U.S. Stock Market Trading Session Times
If you mean U.S. shares rather than forex, the main trading sessions are:
| U.S. stock market session | Eastern Time |
|---|---|
| Pre-market trading | 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. |
| Regular market hours | 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| After-hours trading | 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq both list 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time as regular market hours. Extended-hours trading may have lower liquidity, wider spreads and greater price volatility than regular trading.
Tokyo Stock Exchange Trading Hours
The Tokyo Stock Exchange operates in two cash-equity sessions:
- Morning session: 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Japan Standard Time
- Afternoon session: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Japan Standard Time
The Tokyo Stock Exchange is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Japanese market holidays.
Which Trading Session Should You Use?
For forex traders, the most suitable session depends on the currency pair:
- Major pairs such as EUR/USD and GBP/USD: London and New York sessions
- JPY pairs: Tokyo session and the Tokyo-London transition
- AUD and NZD pairs: Sydney and Tokyo sessions
- Highest general liquidity: London and New York overlap
Check the hours for the specific broker, exchange, futures contract, CFD or stock you plan to trade. Market holidays, daylight saving changes and daily maintenance breaks can change the displayed hours.