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Session times in SAST today
The four forex sessions explained
Sydney (Pacific) session
Opens the trading week on Sunday night SA time. Liquidity is thin; AUD and NZD pairs are most active.
Tokyo (Asian) session
From about 02:00 to 11:00 SAST. Yen pairs and AUD move most. Ranges are usually tighter, which suits range strategies.
London (European) session
Opens at 09:00 SAST in the European summer and 10:00 SAST in the European winter. London handles the largest share of global forex turnover, so this is when spreads tighten and trends often start. EUR, GBP and CHF pairs, and USD/ZAR, are very active.
New York (North American) session
Opens at 14:00 SAST in the US summer and 15:00 SAST in the US winter. Most major US economic data comes out at 14:30 (or 15:30) SAST, including NFP and CPI.
Best time to trade forex in South Africa
The London–New York overlap, roughly 14:00 to 18:00 SAST, has the highest volume and tightest spreads for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, XAU/USD and US indices. For USD/ZAR the London morning and the overlap are busiest. South African traders are lucky: the most active hours fall in the afternoon, not the middle of the night.
When is the forex market open?
Forex trades 24 hours a day, five days a week: from about 23:00 SAST on Sunday (Sydney/Wellington open) to 23:00 SAST on Friday (New York close). During the US winter both times move to midnight. Liquidity drops around Christmas, New Year and major public holidays.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the London session start in South Africa?
At 09:00 SAST when the UK is on summer time (late March to late October) and 10:00 SAST in the UK winter.
What time is the New York session in South Africa?
About 14:00 to 23:00 SAST in the US summer, and 15:00 to 00:00 SAST in the US winter. The stock market opens at 15:30 (16:30) SAST.
Is the forex market open today?
The live clock at the top of the page shows whether the market is open now. It is closed from Friday night until Sunday night, South African time.
What are the 4 trading sessions in South Africa time?
Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York. The table above shows each one's opening and closing time in SAST today.