Visualize in real time which sessions are open. Trade when the market is active, not when it sleeps.
No overlap currently active
The foreign exchange market is open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. But just because the market is technically open doesn't mean you should trade. Volatility, liquidity, and opportunities vary drastically depending on the time.
Understanding trading sessions means understanding when money is really moving. Trading during a dead session is like fishing in an empty pool. Trading during a major overlap gives you access to the biggest moves of the day.
21:00 - 06:00 UTC
The first session to open after the weekend. It sets the tone for the week. Low volatility, but weekend gaps are often filled here.
AUD/USD, NZD/USD, AUD/JPY
Tight ranges, consolidation
00:00 - 09:00 UTC
The main Asian session. Japan being the 3rd largest economy, JPY pairs move significantly. Often continuation movements of the previous day's trend.
USD/JPY, EUR/JPY, GBP/JPY, AUD/JPY
Asian breakouts, frequent false moves
07:00 - 16:00 UTC
The most important session. London represents ~35% of global Forex volume. The London open often breaks the Asian ranges and establishes the direction of the day.
EUR/USD, GBP/USD, EUR/GBP, all majors
High volatility, breakouts, clear trends
12:00 - 21:00 UTC
The second most active session. When NY opens, US news drops and the USD becomes king. The overlap with London (12:00-16:00 UTC) is the most volatile time of the day.
EUR/USD, USD/CAD, USD/CHF, US indices
USD news, reversals, continuation or exhaustion
An overlap occurs when two sessions are open simultaneously. This is where volume explodes and the most significant moves happen.
This is THE moment of the day. Over 70% of daily Forex volume occurs during this 4-hour overlap. If you can only trade once a day, this is the time.
21:00 - 00:00 UTC. Very low liquidity. Widened spreads. Movements are erratic and false signals are frequent.
After 20:00 UTC. Volume drops, spreads increase. Often deceptive "short covering" moves.
After 18:00 UTC on Friday. Institutional traders close their positions. Unpredictable movements, weekend gap risk.
Christmas, New Year, US Bank Holidays. Near-zero volume. The market can move in completely irrational ways.
Range Trading - The Asian session often creates ranges that will be broken at the London open. Identify the range, wait for the breakout.
Setup: Asian Range Breakout at 07:00 UTC
Trend Following - The London open often establishes the direction of the day. Trade in the direction of the initial breakout after 08:00-09:00 UTC.
Setup : London Breakout, ICT Killzones
News Trading + Continuation - US news at 12:30-14:30 UTC creates volatility. Trade trend continuation or reversals after the news.
Setup : NY Session Reversal, News Spike Fade
The best setups at the wrong time are still bad trades. Align your strategy with active sessions to maximize your chances.