During a standard period, the New York forex trading session operates from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET), running from January 1 to March 8, 2025, and resuming from November 2 through the end of the year. On the other hand, during the daylight saving period—spanning from the second Sunday in March (March 9) to the first Sunday in November (November 1)—the New York session shifts to 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET.
Here are the equivalent local times for the New York session in the following time zones:
| Location | Local Time For New York Session: |
|---|---|
| New York | Standard: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) Daylight Saving Time: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET |
| Tokyo | 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM Japan Standard Time (JST) |
| Berlin/Paris | Standard: 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM Central European Time (CET) Daylight Saving Time: 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM CET |
| India | 6:30 PM to 3:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST) |
| South Africa | 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM South Africa Standard Time (SAST) |
| United Kingdom | Standard: 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) Daylight Saving Time: 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM GMT |
| Toronto | Standard: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) Daylight Saving Time: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET |
| Sydney | Standard: 12:00 AM to 9:00 AM Australian Eastern Time (AET) Daylight Saving Time: 1:00 AM to 10:00 AM AET |
| Singapore | 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM Singapore Standard Time (SGT) |
| Hongkong | 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM Hong Kong Time (HKT) |
What are the best currency pairs to trade during the New York Forex session?
Compared to the Tokyo session, the New York session typically has higher liquidity levels and much more volatility. That said, here are five noteworthy currency pairs that stand out among the rest when you’re into Forex Trading:
- US Dollar/Canadian Dollar (USD/CAD) – Due to Canada’s close geographic location (which borders the US) as well as its strong economic ties with the US, the USD/CAD pair is highly liquid during the New York session. In fact, the Toronto session operates during the same trading hours, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET.
- Australian Dollar (AUD/USD) – The AUD/USD pair reflects the close economic relationship between the US and Australia. Moreover, the Australian dollar is considered a “risk-sensitive currency,” performing relatively well when the global market sentiment is bullish and relatively poor when the global market sentiment is bearish.
- Euro/US Dollar (EUR/USD) – As the most traded currency pair across the entire Forex market, the EUR/USD offers extremely high liquidity as well as low spreads, especially during the overlap of the New York and London sessions from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM ET.
- US Dollar/Japanese Yen (USD/JPY) – The USD/JPY pair also enjoys high liquidity and low spreads. This is due to the fact that Japan is among the US’ top trading partners. Not to mention that it is also the third largest economy in the world.
- British Pound/US Dollar (GBP/USD) – The GBP/USD is also among the most volatile pairs during the New York session. During key US and UK economic data releases/announcements, the pair often experiences relatively large price movements. Because of this, the pair presents substantial high-risk trading opportunities that take advantage of these wild price swings.
How important is the New York Session for the global Forex market?
Being the second-largest Forex session (just behind the London session) and located in what is widely regarded as the center of the global financial system, the New York session plays an extremely important role in the global Forex market.
First of all, as the world’s reserve currency, the dominance of the US dollar is apparent. In fact, recent data shows that the USD is involved in roughly 88% of all forex transactions in the world. Second, the New York session also has a relatively high level of liquidity across many of its currency pairs.
Finally, the New York session promptly reflects key US economic data, which is critical given that the US remains the world’s largest economy. Hence, its economic performance has a far-reaching impact on most, if not all, economies worldwide.
New York vs. Tokyo vs. London Sessions: Which offers the most trading opportunities?
In general, New York can be considered as the middle ground between London (with the highest trade volume and extremely high liquidity levels) and Tokyo (which has the lowest trade volume of the three). Nevertheless, this doesn’t necessarily mean it offers the ‘sweet spot’ among the three major sessions. To help you determine which trading session best suits your specific use case, consider these five key factors:
| Category | New York Session | Tokyo Session | London Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Hours (Consider your availability to trade by time of day) | Standard: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET Daylight Savings: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Standard: 7:00 PM to 4:00 AM ET Daylight Savings: 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM | Standard: 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM ET Daylight Savings: 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM |
| Liquidity/Volatility (Consider your need for liquidity and volatility tolerance) | With high liquidity and volatility levels | With relatively moderate liquidity and volatility levels | With the highest liquidity and volatility levels |
| Currencies Traded (Consider your preferred currencies) | US Dollar, Euro, British Pound, Japanese Yen, and Canadian Dollar | Japanese Yen, Australian Dollar, New Zeland Dollar, and US Dollar | US Dollar, Euro, British Pound, Japanese Yen, and Swiss Franc |
| Economic Data (Consider the major economies you want to follow and prioritize) | Major economic announcements from the US and Canada | Major economic announcements from Japan, Australia, New Zeland | Major economic announcements from the UK and the Eurozone |
| Risk Level (Consider your risk tolerance) | Relatively high; more ideal for experienced and advanced traders | Relatively moderate; more ideal for beginners | Relatively high; more ideal for experienced and advanced traders |
Frequently Asked Questions on New York Forex Session
When does the New York session overlap with other sessions?
The New York session overlaps with the London session from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM ET, creating a period of intense trading activity and high volatility, especially for pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD. There is no overlap with the Tokyo session, as the latter ends before New York begins.
Is the New York Forex session suitable for beginners?
The New York session can be suitable for beginners due to its high liquidity, which leads to tighter spreads and better trading conditions. However, the high volatility during economic data releases requires careful risk management, making it a good learning ground for developing discipline.
Which currency pairs are best to trade during the New York session?
The top currency pairs for the New York session are EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/CAD. USD/JPY and AUD/USD are also good choices, offering diverse trading opportunities influenced by global market sentiment and US economic data.
