24-hour market — sessions rotate around the globe. Times below are typical UTC windows; your broker server time may differ.
| Session | UTC hours (typical) | Major currencies | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 21:00 – 06:00 | AUD, NZD | Lower volatility; Asia-Pacific open |
| Tokyo | 00:00 – 09:00 | JPY, AUD | Asian flow; USDJPY active |
| London | 08:00 – 17:00 | EUR, GBP, CHF | Highest FX volume; EURUSD, GBPUSD |
| New York | 13:00 – 22:00 | USD, CAD | US data releases; gold often moves |
~13:00–17:00 UTC. Peak liquidity for EURUSD, GBPUSD, XAUUSD. Spreads often tightest.
~08:00–09:00 UTC. Handoff period; watch USDJPY and cross pairs.
~22:00–00:00 UTC gap. Thinner books; wider spreads possible on some brokers.