The Forex market operates 24/5 with a daily turnover of nearly $8 trillion, giving traders the flexibility to trade at their convenience. However, my quick guide below will show you how to maximize your earnings by focusing on specific Forex market hours in the UK.
The Best Time to Trade Forex in the UK
Forex trading in the UK begins on Sunday at 22:00 GMT and concludes on Friday at 22:00 GMT. While the market operates 24/5, it doesn’t have official opening or closing times, only the start and end of the trading week.
From a technical standpoint, the most profitable Forex trading hours coincide with the most liquid sessions.
High liquidity trading sessions are ideal because increased liquidity reduces spreads, ultimately boosting profitability.
Forex Market Opening Times in the UK
Here are the Forex market opening times offered by the top Forex brokers in the UK:
Sydney Forex trading session
| Local Time | GMT Time | |
| Open | Monday 08:00 | Sunday 22:00 |
| Close | Monday 16:00 | Monday 06:00 |
Tokyo Forex trading session
| Local Time | GMT Time | |
| Open | Monday 09:00 | Sunday 24:00 |
| Close | Monday 18:00 | Monday 09:00 |
London Forex trading session
| Local Time | GMT Time | |
| Open | Monday 08:00 | Monday 07:00 |
| Close | Monday 16:00 | Monday 15:00 |
New York Forex trading session
| Local Time | GMT Time | |
| Open | Monday 08:00 | Monday 12:00 |
| Close | Monday 16:00 | Monday 20:00 |
Why Forex Opening Times Are Key ?
The global Forex market sees a heavy concentration of trading activity within four sessions: Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York, accounting for 75% of all trades. A significant portion of this volume, over 60%, is channeled through London and New York alone.
Overlapping Sessions
Overlapping Forex market sessions, when two markets are open at the same time, boost liquidity and create more trading opportunities with lower fees. The London-New York overlap is the most crucial trading period, accounting for over 60% of all Forex activity.
Sydney – Tokyo Overlapping Forex trading session
| UK Start Time | UK End Time | Currency Pairs to Consider |
| Monday 00:00 | Monday 06:00 | AUD/USD, AUD/NZD, NZD/USD, AUD/NZD, AUD/JPY, NZD/JPY, USD/JPY |
Tokyo – London Overlapping Forex trading session
| UK Start Time | UK End Time | Currency Pairs to Consider |
| Monday 08:00 | Monday 11:00 | GBP/JPY, EUR/GBP, EUR/USD, EUR/JPY, GBP/CHF, EUR/CHF, CHF/JPY |
London – New York Overlapping Forex trading session
| UK Start Time | UK End Time | Currency Pairs to Consider |
| Monday 12:00 | Monday 16:00 | EUR/USD, USD/CHF, USD/JPY |
Profiting from Forex Trading Sessions
To enhance your Forex trading results, consider these key tips:
- Be mindful of Forex overlap sessions to ensure the implementation of the correct trading strategy.
- Utilize economic calendars to anticipate and avoid volatility spikes.
- Practice appropriate risk management techniques.
- Explore the benefits of AI-assisted trading tools.
Bottom Line
For UK-based Forex traders, the optimal trading hours are those that align with their chosen strategy. The three major Forex overlap sessions offer the best liquidity and profitability, accounting for over 75% of global trading volumes, faster order execution, lower spreads, and improved profit potential.