Forex market hours
The forex market runs 24 hours a day, five days a week, through four sessions. Below: which are open now, when each opens and closes in your time zone, and when they overlap.
Sydney session
AUD, NZDChecking…
Tokyo session
JPY, Asian pairsChecking…
London session
EUR, GBP, CHF · busiestChecking…
New York session
USD, CADChecking…
Forex sessions in IST
| Session | Local time | IST, Nov – Mar | IST, Apr – Oct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney AUD, NZD | 07:00 – 16:00 | 1:30 am – 10:30 am | 2:30 am – 11:30 am |
| Tokyo JPY, Asian pairs | 09:00 – 18:00 | 5:30 am – 2:30 pm | 5:30 am – 2:30 pm |
| London EUR, GBP, CHF · busiest | 08:00 – 17:00 | 1:30 pm – 10:30 pm | 12:30 pm – 9:30 pm |
| New York USD, CAD | 08:00 – 17:00 | 6:30 pm – 3:30 am | 5:30 pm – 2:30 am |
Forex is traded over the counter between banks, so there are no official session hours; these are the usual local business hours of each centre. Sydney's clocks change in April and October, London's and New York's in March and October/November, so a week or two each spring and autumn differs from this table.
Session overlaps in IST
| Overlap | IST, Nov – Mar | IST, Apr – Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney + Tokyo | 5:30 am – 10:30 am | 5:30 am – 11:30 am |
| Tokyo + London | 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm |
| London + New York (busiest) | 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm | 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm |
The whole market opens on Monday at 3:30 am IST (Sunday 5:00 pm New York) and closes on Saturday at 3:30 am IST from November to March; at 2:30 am IST from March to November.
Forex trading from India
Residents in India may trade forex only through authorised persons and for permitted purposes under FEMA. Currency futures and options trade on recognised Indian exchanges (NSE, BSE, MSE) from 9:00 am IST on weekdays. The RBI keeps an Alert List of unauthorised forex platforms; not appearing on it does not make a platform authorised.
Questions people ask
What is the forex market timing in India?
The global forex market trades 24 hours a day from Monday 3:30 am IST to Saturday 3:30 am IST while US clocks are on standard time (November to March), and from Monday 2:30 am to Saturday 2:30 am IST in the US summer. It moves through four sessions: Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York.
When is the forex market most active?
Usually when the London and New York sessions overlap: 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm IST from November to March and 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm IST from April to October. Trading volume is typically lowest late on Friday in New York and on Monday morning in Asia.
Can people in India trade forex?
Under FEMA and RBI rules, residents in India may trade forex only through authorised persons and for permitted purposes. Exchange-traded currency derivatives are available on recognised Indian exchanges (NSE, BSE and MSE). The RBI publishes an Alert List of unauthorised forex trading platforms, and trading on such platforms can lead to penalties.
What are the currency derivatives timings on NSE?
Currency futures and options on NSE trade Monday to Friday from 9:00 am IST; INR pairs close at 5:00 pm. Check NSE's currency derivatives page for the current cross-currency hours.
Why do forex session times change in India?
Sydney, London and New York change their clocks on different dates (Sydney in April and October, London and New York in March and October/November), while India does not. Each session therefore starts an hour earlier or later in IST at different times of the year; the live cards above always show the current times.
More market timings
Session hours: conventional centre business hours (no official source exists). India rules: RBI press releases on the Alert List (reported by Business Standard); NSE currency derivatives specifications. Checked 28 Oct 2026. Information only, not investment or trading advice.