At a glance (Central European Time)
- Week opens: Sunday ≈ 23:00
- Week closes: Friday ≈ 23:00
- Busiest window: London–New York overlap ≈ 14:00–18:00
- Daily rollover: ≈ 23:00 — spreads widen
The four sessions in European time
Approximate times in CET/CEST. Because Europe and most other centres move their clocks at similar times of year, the times below hold for most of the year.
| Session | Approx. CET/CEST | Most active pairs |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 23:00 – 08:00 | AUD/USD, NZD/USD |
| Tokyo | 01:00 – 10:00 | USD/JPY, EUR/JPY |
| London (European session) | 09:00 – 18:00 | EUR/USD, EUR/GBP, EUR/CHF |
| New York | 14:00 – 23:00 | EUR/USD, USD/CAD |
The European session
The European session, anchored by London and Frankfurt, is the most liquid part of the day for euro pairs. Many eurozone data releases come out between 08:00 and 11:00 CET, and the European Central Bank announces policy decisions at 14:15 CET, followed by a press conference at 14:45.
Daylight saving quirks
Europe changes its clocks on the last Sundays of March and October; the US on the second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November. For a few weeks each year, New York's session and US data releases happen an hour earlier in European time.
When to be careful
- Around the daily rollover (≈ 23:00 CET), when spreads widen
- At the Sunday-night open, when prices can gap
- Around ECB, Federal Reserve and major data releases
- On holidays such as Christmas and New Year, when liquidity is thin
Frequently asked questions
When does the forex market open in Europe?
The trading week opens on Sunday at around 23:00 Central European Time and closes on Friday at around 23:00 CET.
What is the best time to trade forex in Europe?
The London–New York overlap, roughly 14:00–18:00 CET, usually offers the highest liquidity and tightest spreads on EUR/USD.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.