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For traders worldwide, one of the most common questions is when do the forex markets open on Sunday. Knowing this exact time is essential because it marks the beginning of the trading week, sets initial market sentiment, and often brings price gaps or volatility after weekend news. Understanding the Sunday open gives traders a clear advantage in planning strategies, managing risk, and identifying early opportunities.
Key takeaways:
- The answer to when do the forex markets open on Sunday is 5:00 pm ET, aligning with the Sydney session.
- Sunday open often brings volatility due to weekend news and global events.
- Liquidity is thin at first, spreads are wider, and risks like slippage may occur.
- Trading conditions improve as the Tokyo and London sessions begin.
- Time zone conversions and DST shifts are crucial for accurate local open times.
- Checking broker-specific schedules ensures you enter the market at the right moment.
1. Why does the Sunday forex open matters to traders?
Knowing the exact time when the forex market reopens on Sunday is essential for both retail and professional traders. This weekly restart is not just a formality but a critical period that sets the tone for the week ahead. Traders keenly watch the Sunday open to gauge initial price movements, volatility spikes, and to position themselves strategically before the major trading sessions begin.
The Sunday open often experiences increased volatility caused by weekend news and overnight global events, making early-week setups particularly important. Understanding this timing helps traders manage risk, prepare algorithms, and align their strategies with expected liquidity flows and price gaps.
2. When do the forex markets open on Sunday?
The retail forex market opens each Sunday at 5:00 pm New York time (Eastern Time, ET) and closes Friday at 5:00 pm ET.
This time corresponds to the start of trading in the Sydney session and varies slightly depending on Daylight Saving Time (DST) changes between Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). This industry-wide standard helps brokers synchronize trading hours globally, ensuring liquidity flows and price continuity across all major forex pairs and instruments.
| Location | Sunday Open Time |
| New York (ET) | 5:00 pm |
| London (GMT/BST) | 10:00 pm |
| Sydney (AEST/AEDT) | 7:00 am (Monday) |
| Singapore (SGT) | 5:00 am (Monday) |
| Dubai (GST) | 9:00 pm |
| New Delhi (IST) | 3:30 am (Monday) |
| Johannesburg (SAST) | 11:00 pm |
| São Paulo (BRT) | 6:00 pm |
| Los Angeles (PST/PDT) | 2:00 pm |
| UTC | 9:00 pm |
3. Sunday open local time conversion
Converting the 5:00 pm ET Sunday forex open to your local timezone is a straightforward process but requires careful attention to Daylight Saving Time (DST) changes. Follow these steps to calculate the local opening time:
- Identify your local time offset from Eastern Time (ET), accounting for whether ET is in EST or EDT.
- Add or subtract the time difference from 5:00 pm ET Sunday.
- Consider if your locale observes DST and adjust accordingly.
- Use reliable online time-zone converters or broker-provided market clocks for accuracy.
| City | Sunday forex open local time |
| Mumbai | 2:30 am Monday (IST) |
| Sydney | 7:00 am Monday (AEST/AEDT) |
| Johannesburg | 11:00 pm Sunday (SAST) |
| London | 10:00 pm Sunday (GMT/BST) |
Example: For Mumbai, India (IST, UTC+5:30), when it is 5:00 pm ET Sunday (UTC-5 or UTC-4 during DST), add 10.5 or 9.5 hours respectively, resulting in 2:30 am Monday local time. Always verify with a trusted world clock or your trading platform’s market timer to accommodate any broker-specific variances.
Example: For Mumbai, India (IST, UTC+5:30), when it is 5:00 pm ET Sunday (UTC-5 or UTC-4 during DST), add 10.5 or 9.5 hours respectively, resulting in 2:30 am Monday local time. Always verify with a trusted world clock or your trading platform’s market timer to accommodate any broker-specific variances.
Accurately converting market open times helps traders avoid missed opportunities and manage risk more effectively. Beyond timing, evaluating performance also matters — and one useful metric to explore is what is a good Sharpe ratio, which helps assess whether your trading returns justify the risks taken.
4. What does “Sunday open” really mean?
The forex market operates 24 hours a day, five days a week, supported by interbank liquidity spread across global financial centers. While institutional liquidity providers and banks may begin trading earlier in some regions, the official retail forex market opens on Sunday at 5:00 pm ET, aligning with the Sydney session’s start.
This reopening is when retail brokers update their prices and allow non-bank traders to place orders. Although some broker platforms may experience a startup maintenance window, causing delays of up to 15 minutes in order book updates, the market starts receiving tradable quotes from that time onward.
- The Sunday open signals the first opportunity for retail traders to interact with live and evolving market prices each week.
- Interbank liquidity starts flowing in Sydney and gradually spreads as other sessions come online.
- Broker quotes may slightly differ due to maintenance or platform-specific delays, but 5:00 pm ET is accepted as the global standard open.
5. Forex trading sessions after the Sunday open: Sydney, Tokyo, London, New York
The forex trading week starts with the Sydney session shortly after Sunday’s global market open at 5:00 pm ET, followed by Tokyo, London, and finally New York. Each session reflects the active trading hours of key financial centers and carries distinct liquidity and volatility characteristics.
Weekly session order & approximate ET times (DST aware):
- Sydney: 5:00 pm ET Sunday to 2:00 am ET Monday – Initially low liquidity, AUD/NZD pairs often active.
- Tokyo: 7:00 pm ET Sunday to 4:00 am ET Monday – Asian trading intensifies, JPY pairs show activity.
- London: 3:00 am ET Monday to 12:00 pm ET Monday – Heaviest liquidity arrives, EUR, GBP pairs dominate.
- New York: 8:00 am ET Monday to 5:00 pm ET Friday – Overlaps with London in early hours, USD pairs highly traded.
This sequence enables overlapping sessions during the day (e.g., London–New York overlap is the most liquid period), creating prime trading opportunities. Traders targeting specific currency pairs should align their strategies with these session windows for optimum market participation.
6. What are trading conditions like at the Sunday open? (Liquidity, spreads & risk)
Trading conditions immediately after the Sunday open can be challenging due to thin liquidity and wider-than-usual spreads. Banks and large institutions provide reduced liquidity as many are still offline or just starting their trading day, prompting brokers to widen spreads to manage risk.
Common factors affecting Sunday open conditions include:
- Weekend news and events may cause market gaps, leading to potential slippage on stop or market orders.
- Liquidity providers take time to ramp up, meaning initial price movements can be unpredictable.
- Automated trading systems (EAs) may face increased risk due to low liquidity and price jumps.
Tips for managing Sunday open risk:
- Consider waiting for the Tokyo or London session to start when liquidity improves.
- Event-driven traders can capitalize on early news releases but should use wider stops.
- Monitor spreads carefully; avoid entering positions during unusual spikes.
According to data from major brokers, spreads on popular pairs like EUR/USD can widen by 2–3 times during the first 30 minutes post-open, normalizing as global liquidity increases.
7. Broker and platform nuances: Timing, exceptions and what to check
While most forex brokers adhere to a Sunday 5:00 pm ET open for FX trading, variations exist based on server locations, asset classes, and maintenance schedules. For example, some brokers open metals and CFDs an hour later or offer crypto trading 24/7, unaffected by forex market hours.
| Instrument | Typical Sunday open time (ET) |
| Forex (FX) pairs | 5:00 pm Sunday |
| Metals/Commodities CFDs | 6:00 pm Sunday |
| Cryptocurrency (Crypto) | 24/7 continuous |
How to verify your broker’s open time:
- Check your trading platform’s server clock and market status page.
- Review weekly or monthly maintenance announcements from your broker.
- Confirm instrument-specific trading hours for accurate order timing.
8. How do global holidays and daylight saving changes affect the Sunday open?
Global bank holidays and daylight saving time (DST) changes can influence trading conditions around the Sunday open. Holidays in major financial centers often reduce liquidity further and may delay volume recovery in early sessions.
DST transitions in the US, EU, and Australia shift local open times, which means traders must adjust their clocks accordingly. For example, when the US begins daylight saving time, the 5:00 pm ET open effectively shifts relative to GMT and other zones.
| Event | Date (2025) |
| US DST Starts | March 9, 2025 |
| US DST Ends | November 2, 2025 |
Pro Tip: During these “transition weeks,” always double-check your broker’s platform and market clock to avoid timing errors.
Read more:
9. Sunday open forex FAQs
9.1. Is forex open on weekends?
No, the forex market closes at 5:00 pm ET Friday and reopens at 5:00 pm ET Sunday. Weekend retail trading is generally unavailable.
9.2. What is the Sydney session?
The Sydney session is the first major forex trading period each week, starting at 5:00 pm ET Sunday and lasting until 2:00 am ET Monday, with focus on AUD and NZD pairs.
9.3. Which major time zones see Monday morning at Sunday open?
Locations like Sydney, Singapore, Mumbai, and Tokyo observe Monday morning when the forex market opens on Sunday 5:00 pm ET.
9.4. Is trading early Sunday riskier than later in the week?
Yes, initial Sunday trading features low liquidity, wider spreads, and potential gaps; risk decreases as sessions progress into Monday.
9.5. Why did my stop get filled at a worse price?
Due to wider spreads and slippage caused by low liquidity or price gaps at Sunday open, stop orders may execute at less favorable prices.
9.6. Best time to trade after Sunday open?
Many traders wait until the Tokyo or London session to have better liquidity and tighter spreads.
9.7. How does crypto trading differ on weekends?
Unlike forex, crypto markets operate 24/7 with continuous price action and liquidity.
9.8. Do all brokers open at the same minute?
Almost all retail brokers open FX trading at 5:00 pm ET Sunday, though slight differences can occur due to maintenance or server locations.
9.9. How to manage EAs/scripts at open?
Traders should disable or configure expert advisors around the Sunday open to avoid undesirable trades caused by volatility and low liquidity.
10. Conclusion
In summary, knowing when do the forex markets open on Sunday is more than a simple detail; it is a cornerstone of effective trading preparation. By aligning with the official 5:00 pm ET open, monitoring liquidity, and adjusting for global time zones, traders can start the week with confidence and clarity. For more in-depth guides and trading insights, explore other expert resources at webtaichinh.
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