Like any other job where important decisions must be made, trading on Forex requires considering many external factors. Most of them, of course, revolve around creating and testing a good trading system, as well as maintaining discipline. However, it is also very important to know the general behavior of the market—what affects its movement at different times of the day.
Traditionally, the Forex trading sessions schedule distinguishes three main sessions (Moscow time +3 GMT (+4 GMT)):
- Asian Trading Session: 03:00 – 11:00 (04:00 – 12:00 during daylight saving time);
- European Trading Session: 09:00 – 17:00 (10:00 – 18:00 during daylight saving time);
- American Trading Session: 16:00 – 24:00 (17:00 – 01:00 during daylight saving time).
Additionally, there is also a trading session for Australia and Oceania, which takes place in the morning hours: 01:00 – 09:00 (02:00 – 10:00 during daylight saving time).
| Region | City | Winter Time | Summer Time | ||
| Moscow Time (GMT +3 / GMT +4) | |||||
| Opening | Closing | Opening | Closing | ||
| Australia, Oceania | Sydney | 01:00 | 09:00 | 02:00 | 09:00 |
| Asian Session | Tokyo | 03:00 | 11:00 | 04:00 | 12:00 |
| Hong Kong | 04:00 | 12:00 | 05:00 | 13:00 | |
| Singapore | 04:00 | 12:00 | 05:00 | 13:00 | |
| European Session | Frankfurt | 09:00 | 17:00 | 09:00 | 17:00 |
| Zurich | 09:00 | 17:00 | 09:00 | 17:00 | |
| Paris | 09:00 | 17:00 | 09:00 | 17:00 | |
| London | 10:00 | 18:00 | 10:00 | 18:00 | |
| American Session | New York | 16:00 | 00:00 | 16:00 | 00:00 |
| Chicago | 17:00 | 01:00 | 17:00 | 01:00 | |
Tracking Trading Session Times Is Indeed Important
(The description uses Moscow time: GMT+3)
We note that the start of the trading day is traditionally considered the opening of the Asian Session. At this time, traders pay attention to Asian currencies – the yen, yuan, Singapore dollar, etc. Since most Asian countries actively export goods, during this session companies adjust the price of their national currency at their discretion. Nevertheless, this is a rather quiet time, with the
FAQ
What are the main Forex trading sessions?
The main sessions are Asian, European, and American, with specific time ranges depending on daylight saving time.
When does the Asian session start?
The Asian session starts at 03:00 (04:00 during daylight saving time) in Moscow time.
Which cities are part of the European session?
The European session includes Frankfurt, Zurich, Paris, and London, operating from 09:00 to 17:00 (10:00 to 18:00 during daylight saving time).
