Forex Market Hours (IST)
The forex market is open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. Here are the four major trading sessions converted to Indian Standard Time (IST), so you know exactly when to trade.
Sydney Session
Tokyo Session
London Session
New York Session
London–New York Overlap
The highest-volume period of the day is when London and New York are both open. This is the best time to trade from India:
During this 4-hour overlap, both European and American markets are active simultaneously. This means tighter spreads, higher liquidity, and bigger price moves — especially on EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and XAU/USD (gold).
When does the forex market open and close?
The forex market opens on Monday at 05:00 AM IST (Sydney session) and closes on Friday at 02:30 AM IST (New York session close). The market is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Trading is continuous — when one session closes, another is already open or about to open.
Which session is best for Indian traders?
For Indian traders (IST timezone), the London session (12:30 PM – 9:30 PM IST) and the New York session (5:30 PM – 2:30 AM IST) are the most active and liquid. The London–New York overlap from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM IST is the best time to trade — this is when most retail traders in India are available after work hours, and the market is at its most volatile.
Session overlap times (IST)
| Overlap | Time (IST) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo + London | 12:30 PM – 03:00 PM | EUR/JPY, GBP/JPY |
| London + New York | 05:30 PM – 09:30 PM | EUR/USD, GBP/USD, XAU/USD |
| Sydney + Tokyo | 06:00 AM – 02:00 PM | AUD/JPY, NZD/JPY |
Session times are in Indian Standard Time (IST = UTC+5:30). Times may shift slightly due to daylight saving changes in the UK and US (typically March–October). Always confirm on your trading platform.