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The forex market is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, but it is not equally busy all day. Trading moves from one financial centre to the next – Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York – and the hours that matter most for Indian traders fall in the afternoon and evening, IST.
This guide gives you the full timetable in Indian Standard Time, explains how daylight saving shifts it twice a year, and shows which hours are usually most active for majors and gold. New to sessions? Start with forex trading sessions explained.
Forex market timings in IST (November to March – winter)
From early November to mid-March, the UK and the US are on winter time and Australia is on summer time.
| Session | Local hours | Time in India (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 07:00–16:00 (AEDT) | 01:30 – 10:30 |
| Tokyo | 09:00–18:00 (JST) | 05:30 – 14:30 |
| London | 08:00–17:00 (GMT) | 13:30 – 22:30 |
| New York | 08:00–17:00 (EST) | 18:30 – 03:30 (next day) |
The forex week in IST (winter): opens around 03:30 IST on Monday and closes around 03:30 IST on Saturday. The Sydney session nominally starts earlier, but trading platforms usually open for the week at about 17:00 New York time on Sunday.
Forex market timings in IST (April to October – summer)
From late March/early April to late October, the UK and US move their clocks forward and Australia moves back.
| Session | Local hours | Time in India (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 07:00–16:00 (AEST) | 02:30 – 11:30 |
| Tokyo | 09:00–18:00 (JST) | 05:30 – 14:30 |
| London | 08:00–17:00 (BST) | 12:30 – 21:30 |
| New York | 08:00–17:00 (EDT) | 17:30 – 02:30 (next day) |
The forex week in IST (summer): opens around 02:30 IST on Monday and closes around 02:30 IST on Saturday.
Tokyo does not change, because Japan has no daylight saving. India has none either, which is why IST timings for London and New York shift by one hour twice a year.
Short transition weeks happen in March and in late October/early November, when one region has changed its clocks and another has not. For the live picture in your own time zone, use the forex market hours tool.
London session time in India
The London session is the busiest of the day, and it is the one most Indian traders ask about.
- Winter (Nov–Mar): 13:30 to 22:30 IST
- Summer (Apr–Oct): 12:30 to 21:30 IST
London handles the largest share of global currency trading, so spreads on major pairs such as EUR/USD and GBP/USD are often at their tightest and price moves are often larger during these hours.
The London–New York overlap: the busiest hours
When London and New York are open at the same time, the two largest centres trade together. In IST:
- Winter: about 18:30 to 22:30 IST
- Summer: about 17:30 to 21:30 IST
Many important US data releases – US jobs data (NFP), inflation (CPI) and retail sales – come out during this window, typically at 8:30 New York time, which is 19:00 IST in winter and 18:00 IST in summer. Federal Reserve decisions come later, usually 14:00 New York time (00:30 IST in winter, 23:30 IST in summer). Check the economic calendar before you trade around these events, because prices can move sharply and spreads can widen.
Gold trading time in India
Gold (XAU/USD) trades almost around the clock on weekdays, following the same Monday-to-Friday pattern as currencies, with a short daily break around the New York close. For the hours and contract details on Xellion, see the gold price page.
Gold is usually most active:
- when London opens (13:30 IST in winter, 12:30 IST in summer),
- during the London–New York overlap,
- around major US data releases and Fed announcements.
Read more in what moves the gold price and our beginner's guide to trading gold online.
Best time to trade forex in India
There is no single best time for everyone, but these patterns are common:
| Your style | Hours to consider (IST, winter) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Majors (EUR/USD, GBP/USD) | 13:30 – 22:30 | London session, deepest liquidity |
| News-driven trading | 18:30 – 22:30 | London–New York overlap, US data |
| JPY and AUD pairs | 05:30 – 14:30 | Tokyo and Sydney sessions |
| Gold | 13:30 onwards, especially 18:30 – 22:30 | London open and US data |
| After office hours | 18:30 – 23:00 | Overlap falls after a typical working day |
The quiet hours – roughly late night to early morning IST, after New York closes and before Tokyo is fully active – often have wider spreads and fewer moves.
Weekends and holidays
- The forex market closes from early Saturday morning IST to early Monday morning IST.
- Indian public holidays do not close the global forex market, though Indian banking channels may be slower on bank holidays.
- Christmas and New Year's Day usually mean thin trading and shorter hours.
Quick reference card
- Market opens: Monday ~03:30 IST (winter) / ~02:30 IST (summer)
- London: 13:30–22:30 IST (winter) / 12:30–21:30 IST (summer)
- New York: 18:30–03:30 IST (winter) / 17:30–02:30 IST (summer)
- Overlap: 18:30–22:30 IST (winter) / 17:30–21:30 IST (summer)
- Market closes: Saturday ~03:30 IST (winter) / ~02:30 IST (summer)
Ready to trade the London session? Open an account and deposit by UPI from $50, or practise first on a free demo.
FAQ
What are forex market timings in India?
The forex market is open from about 03:30 IST on Monday to about 03:30 IST on Saturday in winter (02:30 IST in summer), 24 hours a day on weekdays.
What is the London session time in India?
13:30 to 22:30 IST from November to March, and 12:30 to 21:30 IST from April to October.
When is the forex market most active in IST?
During the London–New York overlap: about 18:30–22:30 IST in winter and 17:30–21:30 IST in summer.
Why do forex timings in India change during the year?
The UK, US and Australia use daylight saving and India does not, so their sessions move by one hour in IST twice a year.
What is the gold trading time in India?
Gold trades almost 24 hours on weekdays with a short daily break. It is usually most active from the London open and during the London–New York overlap.
Is the forex market open on Indian holidays?
Yes. The global forex market follows global centres, not Indian holidays, although local bank transfers may be slower.
This article is general information and education, not investment advice. CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.
