Forex market hours refer to the specific times when participants in the foreign exchange market can trade currencies, typically aligning with the business hours of global financial centers.
The Primary Forex Sessions (SAST time)
| Sessions | From (SAST Time Zone) | To (SAST Time Zone) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 11PM | 8AM |
| Tokyo (Asian) | 2AM | 11AM |
| London (Europe) | 9AM | 6PM |
| New York (American) | 3PM | 12AM |
Asian Session
Opens 2:00 am – Closes 11:00 am SAST time.
Asia forex session (Tokyo ) is known for its lower forex markets volatility and liquidity. Dominated by highest volume in JPY Japanesse jen and also AUD, NZD Australian and New Zealand Dollar.
During this session, you should definitely consider trading the USD/JPY pair, as it statistically experiences the largest price movements.
London Session
Opens 9:00 am – Closes 6:00 pm SAST time.
Concurrently, many traders indicated that, for the most part, the EUR pairs and GBP pairs are widely traded during the London or European Forex Trading Session. Of course, every trader has a specific, individualized strategy that can be more or less successful, depending on the time.
New York Session
Opens 3:00 pm – Closes 12:00 am SAST time.
This has been always the busiest and also the most liquid with highest volatility.
Logically, US dollar pairs USD are the most traded. During U.S forex session, major pairs, crosses, and emerging market currencies, such as the Mexican Peso and Brazilian Real, are traded frequently.
The overlap between the London and the New York session creates a period of heightened activity.
During the U.S. Trading Session, you should definitely consider trading the EUR/USD pair, as it statistically experiences the largest price movements.
When is the best time to trade forex in South Africa?
In South Africa, the optimal times for Forex trading vary by season. During the summer, the best trading hours are from 10:00 to 17:00 SAST, while in the winter, they shift to 9:00 to 16:00 SAST. It aligns with key market overlaps, offering high liquidity, reduced false moves, and significant market movement.
During these key times there is logically higher volatility and volume.
When the trade volume is higher, currencies are prone to move quicker.
Additionally, during these timeframes, significant economic news is prone to be publicly announced.
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