Forex market hours in IST
| Session | Mid-January (IST) | Mid-July (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 1:30 AM to 10:30 AM | 2:30 AM to 11:30 AM |
| Tokyo | 5:30 AM to 2:30 PM | 5:30 AM to 2:30 PM |
| London | 1:30 PM to 10:30 PM | 12:30 PM to 9:30 PM |
| New York | 6:30 PM to 3:30 AM | 5:30 PM to 2:30 AM |
| London and New York overlap | 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM | 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM |
Sessions are shown as each city's 8 to 5 business day (Sydney 7 to 4, Tokyo 9 to 6). Brokers draw them slightly differently. Clocks change in March, April, October and November, so use the live clock above for today's exact times.
London session time in India
The London session opens at 8:00 AM London time. In India that is 1:30 PM IST from November to March and 12:30 PM IST from April to October. It closes at 10:30 PM IST in winter and 9:30 PM IST in summer.
The London open is when most of the day's big moves begin, and it falls in the Indian afternoon. I trade it live every weekday from 7:45 AM London time, which is 1:15 PM IST in winter and 12:15 PM IST in summer.
New York session time in India
The New York session opens at 8:00 AM New York time: 6:30 PM IST in winter and 5:30 PM IST in summer. It runs until 3:30 AM IST (winter) or 2:30 AM IST (summer), so the last part of it is after midnight in India.
Major US data such as the jobs report and inflation figures comes out at 8:30 AM New York time, which is 7:00 PM IST in winter and 6:00 PM IST in summer. Expect fast moves around those releases.
Best time to trade forex in India
The busiest window is the overlap between London and New York, when both centres are open: 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM IST in winter and 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM IST in summer. EUR/USD, GBP/USD and the other major pairs usually move the most then.
The London open in the Indian afternoon is the other good window, and it is the one I trade. Both fit around a normal working day. The Tokyo session in the Indian morning is quieter for the major pairs and tends to range, which is why ICT traders mark its high and low as levels for London to run. More on that in my guide to the Asian session range.
Forex market opening time in India on Monday
The forex week opens at 5:00 PM New York time on Sunday. In India that is 3:30 AM IST on Monday morning in winter and 2:30 AM IST in summer. It closes at the same New York time on Friday, which is early Saturday morning in India. Liquidity is thin in the first hours of the week, so spreads can be wide.
Rules for forex trading in India
The Reserve Bank of India only allows residents to trade forex through authorised entities, on recognised Indian exchanges such as NSE and BSE, in permitted currency pairs. It also publishes an alert list of unauthorised forex platforms. Rules change, so check the current position on the RBI website before you open an account. Nothing on this page is financial or legal advice.
ICT killzones in IST
ICT killzones are set in New York time, so in IST they move with US daylight saving. See killzone trading and the London open killzone for how traders use them.
| Killzone | New York time | Mid-January (IST) | Mid-July (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian killzone | 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM | 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM | 5:30 AM to 9:30 AM |
| London open killzone | 2:00 AM to 5:00 AM | 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM | 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM |
| New York killzone | 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM | 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM | 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM |
| London close killzone | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM | 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM | 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM |
Questions
What is the London session time in India?
The London session runs from 1:30 PM to 10:30 PM IST from November to March, and 12:30 PM to 9:30 PM IST from April to October, when the UK is on summer time.
What is the New York session time in India?
The New York session runs from 6:30 PM to 3:30 AM IST in winter and 5:30 PM to 2:30 AM IST in summer, so it closes after midnight in India.
What is the best time to trade forex in India?
The London and New York overlap, 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM IST in winter and 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM IST in summer, is usually the most active window. The London open in the Indian afternoon is the other popular window.
What time does the forex market open in India on Monday?
The forex week opens at 5:00 PM New York time on Sunday, which is 3:30 AM IST on Monday in winter and 2:30 AM IST in summer.
Why do forex session times in India change?
India does not use daylight saving, but the UK, the US and Australia do. When their clocks change in March, April, October and November, their sessions start an hour earlier or later in IST. For a couple of weeks each spring and autumn the US and UK are also out of step with each other.
Is forex trading legal in India?
The RBI allows residents to trade forex only through authorised entities, on recognised Indian exchanges, in permitted currency pairs, and it keeps an alert list of unauthorised platforms. Check the current RBI rules before trading. This is general information and not legal advice.