Sessions and news

Forex runs from Sunday 5pm to Friday 5pm New York time, moving between financial centres around the world.

The four sessions

Hours are approximate and in local time:

• Sydney: 7am to 4pm
• Tokyo: 9am to 6pm
• London: 8am to 5pm
• New York: 8am to 5pm

The market status pill in our navigation shows which sessions are open now.

When pairs are active

Pairs tend to be most active when their home markets are open. EUR/USD and GBP/USD are often busiest in London and during the London and New York overlap. Quiet hours can bring slower movement and sometimes wider spreads.

News

Interest rate decisions, inflation and jobs data can move a currency in seconds. Around big releases, spreads can widen and stops can fill at worse prices than you set.

Look at an economic calendar before each session. As a beginner, you can avoid being in a trade during high-impact news. Decide this in your plan, not on the day.

Weekend gaps

Prices can open on Sunday at a different level from Friday's close. A stop may fill well beyond its set price if that happens. Think about this before you hold a trade over the weekend.

Key point

Choose one session that fits your life and learn how your pair behaves in it. You do not need to watch the market all day.