A session overlap is a time when two financial centres are open together. Many traders see the overlaps as the most active part of the day, because more banks and brokers are trading at once.
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| Session | Local hours | New York (ET: EST/EDT) | UTC / GMT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 7:00 to 16:00 | 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM | 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM |
| Tokyo | 9:00 to 18:00 | 7:00 PM to 4:00 AM | 12:00 AM to 9:00 AM |
| London | 8:00 to 17:00 | 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| New York | 8:00 to 17:00 | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM |
Times for the week of 4 November 2026, with daylight saving applied automatically. Session hours are the common market convention; brokers and platforms may use slightly different windows.
The forex market runs from Sunday 5:00 PM to Friday 5:00 PM New York time. Session hours follow the common market convention; holidays and broker hours can differ.
The London and New York overlap
London (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM London time) and New York (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET) are open together from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Time for most of the year. These are the two largest forex centres: about 38% (United Kingdom) and 19% (United States) of global foreign exchange turnover in April 2025 (BIS).
The Tokyo and London overlap
Tokyo closes at 6:00 PM Tokyo time and London opens at 8:00 AM London time. In UK winter they share one hour (8:00 to 9:00 AM London time). In UK summer London’s 8:00 AM is 4:00 PM in Tokyo, so they share two hours (8:00 to 10:00 AM London time). The table below shows the exact times for this week.
| Session | Local hours | New York (ET: EST/EDT) | London (GMT/BST) | India (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 7:00 to 16:00 | 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM | 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM | 1:30 AM to 10:30 AM |
| Tokyo | 9:00 to 18:00 | 7:00 PM to 4:00 AM | 12:00 AM to 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM to 2:30 PM |
| London | 8:00 to 17:00 | 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 1:30 PM to 10:30 PM |
| New York | 8:00 to 17:00 | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM | 6:30 PM to 3:30 AM |
Times for the week of 4 November 2026, with daylight saving applied automatically. Session hours are the common market convention; brokers and platforms may use slightly different windows.
Best forex trading hours
There is no single best hour for everyone: it depends on the currency pair. Pairs follow the centres where their currencies are traded most, so euro and pound pairs are usually most active in the London session and the London and New York overlap, and yen and Australian dollar pairs in the Asian session. Check your broker’s spreads at the times you plan to trade.
There is no official schedule for forex sessions: the foreign exchange market is traded over the counter between banks and brokers around the world. The session hours on this site follow the common market convention (each centre from its morning to its late afternoon). Exchange hours are quoted from the exchanges themselves.
Sources
- BIS Triennial Survey 2025, OTC foreign exchange turnover (read 3 Nov 2026)
Frequently asked questions
When do London and New York overlap?
From 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Time for most of the year (1:00 PM to 5:00 PM London time).
What are the best forex trading hours?
It depends on the pair. Many traders focus on the London and New York overlap, when the two largest forex centres are open together.
By the Market Session Times Editorial Team. Updated 3 November 2026. General information only, not financial advice. Trading carries a high risk of loss. Check your broker for its exact trading hours and holiday schedule.