Trading Sessions

The forex market operates 24 hours a day, but trading activity peaks during three major sessions: Asia, London, and New York. Each session has unique characteristics, and knowing their timings helps traders align with volatility and liquidity.

1. Asian Session (Tokyo Session)

• Hours (EST): 7:00 PM – 4:00 AM

• Key Traits:

  • Lower volatility compared to London & New York.

  • Best pairs: USD/JPY, EUR/JPY, GBP/JPY.

  • Market often consolidates, setting the stage for breakouts.

• Tip: Good for range trading or preparing for the London open.

2. London Session

• Hours (EST): 3:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Key Traits:

  • The most liquid and volatile session.

  • Best pairs: EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/CHF.

  • Overlaps with Asia at the start and New York towards the end.

• Tip: Great for trend-following strategies and breakouts.

3. New York Session

• Hours (EST): 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

• Key Traits:

  • Second most active session.

  • Best pairs: USD-related pairs (EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY).

  • Overlap with London (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST) creates the most volatile moves.

• Tip: Watch for news-driven volatility (NFP, FOMC, CPI).

Session Overlaps (Best Times to Trade in EST)

• London–New York (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST): 🔥 Highest volatility and volume.

• Asia–London (3:00 AM – 4:00 AM EST): Breakouts from Asian ranges.

Key Takeaway:

• Asia = Calm & Ranges

• London = Trends & Liquidity

• New York = News & Volatility