Forex Market Hours

Forex market hours vary depending on the country, currency pair, trading session, and trading platform. Although the global forex market remains open throughout weekdays, exchange-traded currency derivatives in India have fixed hours.

• INR currency derivatives trade from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm IST.
• Cross-currency derivatives trade from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm IST.
• The global market follows the Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York sessions.
• Trading activity usually increases when two major sessions overlap.
• Indian residents can undertake forex transactions only through authorised persons and for purposes permitted under RBI rules.

• The trading hours and permitted contracts may vary across exchanges.

  
  
  

The global forex market is open throughout the day and night on weekdays. However, traders in India need to convert global session timings into Indian Standard Time to understand when each session is active.
A forex market time zone converter shows the opening and closing times of major sessions in your local time. It can help you identify whether the Sydney, Tokyo, London, or New York market is currently open.
These tools may also show periods when two sessions overlap. However, global session timings can shift by one hour when countries follow daylight saving time.
 

Many currencies are traded globally through different currency pairs. However, a large share of foreign exchange activity is concentrated in major financial centres such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan.
According to the Bank for International Settlements’ 2025 survey, the United Kingdom accounted for the largest share of global foreign exchange trading. The United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan were also among the leading locations.
The US dollar remains the most actively traded currency. It was on one side of around 89.2% of global forex trades in April 2025.
The euro was involved in around 28.9% of trades, while the Japanese yen accounted for around 16.8%. Since every forex trade involves two currencies, the combined percentage shares of individual currencies add up to 200%.
 

In India, INR currency derivative trading generally starts at 9:00 am and ends at 5:00 pm from Monday to Friday, excluding exchange holidays.

The permitted INR currency pairs include:

• USD-INR
• EUR-INR
• GBP-INR

• JPY-INR

  
  

Currency futures and options on these pairs are available on authorised Indian exchanges, subject to the contracts offered by each exchange.

These trading hours apply to exchange-traded currency derivatives. They should not be confused with the 24-hour international over-the-counter forex market.

Cross-currency pairs involve two foreign currencies and do not include the Indian rupee.

Eligible cross-currency futures and options in India include:

• EUR-USD
• GBP-USD

• USD-JPY

  
  

Trading in these contracts generally takes place from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm IST, Monday to Friday, excluding exchange holidays.

This gives cross-currency contracts an additional two hours and thirty minutes of trading compared with INR currency derivatives.

The forex market is considered open 24 hours a day because currencies are traded across financial centres in different time zones.

When the trading day ends in one region, another region begins trading. This creates continuous weekday activity across Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York.

The global forex market mainly operates through an over-the-counter network. Transactions take place electronically between banks, financial institutions, brokers, businesses, and other eligible participants rather than through one central global exchange.

The following timings are commonly used to understand the major sessions. Exact timings may change during daylight saving periods.

The global trading week generally begins with the Sydney session on Monday morning local time. It ends after the New York session closes on Friday evening local time.

Forex markets generally see higher activity when major trading sessions overlap. During these periods, more market participants may be active, which can increase liquidity and price movement.
The London and New York sessions commonly overlap between around 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm UTC during daylight saving periods. This corresponds to approximately 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm IST.
However, traders using Indian exchanges must follow domestic trading hours. INR currency derivatives close at 5:00 pm, while eligible cross-currency derivatives close at 7:30 pm.
Therefore, only part of the London and New York overlap may be available through exchange-traded cross-currency contracts in India. Higher liquidity or volatility does not guarantee favourable prices or profits.
 

• Choose a SEBI-registered broker that provides access to exchange-traded INR currency derivatives.
• Check whether the required pair, such as USD-INR or EUR-INR, is available.
• Follow the Indian trading hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm IST.
• Monitor exchange rates and market activity before placing an order.
• Use the trading platform to place, modify, or cancel orders.

• Manage your exposure carefully because currency prices can move in either direction.

  
  

You should also understand the contract size, expiry date, margin requirement, and settlement process before trading currency derivatives.

Indian residents can undertake forex transactions only through authorised persons and for purposes permitted under the Foreign Exchange Management Act and RBI directions.
Exchange-traded currency derivatives are available through authorised exchanges and SEBI-registered brokers. Permitted INR pairs include USD-INR, EUR-INR, GBP-INR, and JPY-INR.
Eligible cross-currency contracts include EUR-USD, GBP-USD, and USD-JPY. The exact contracts available may differ across exchanges.
Residents should avoid unauthorised online forex platforms. Before participating, they should verify that the broker and trading platform are authorised and understand the applicable RBI, SEBI, and exchange rules.
 

Forex market hours depend on whether you are referring to the global forex market or exchange-traded currency derivatives in India. The international market operates 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday. In India, INR currency derivatives generally trade from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, while cross-currency contracts trade until 7:30 pm. Understanding these hours, global session overlaps, and regulatory requirements can help traders plan their activities and manage currency-related risks more carefully.