Complete Guide to Forex Trading Hours in Singapore, London and New York

Forex is a 24-hour marketplace from the Asian open on Monday to the New York close on Friday, but the idea that “the market never sleeps” can be misleading. Liquidity is not evenly distributed across the day; nor is volatility, spreads, or the quality of price discovery. For traders operating from Singapore—or anyone looking to optimize execution around the Asian, European, and American clocks—understanding when to trade is as pivotal as knowing what to trade. Session structure, institutional flow patterns, and economic calendars create recurring behaviors that can be measured, anticipated, and converted into an operational edge.

This comprehensive guide compares the trading hours of Singapore (representing Asia) with London and New York, the two other pillars of global FX. You will learn how local clocks translate to UTC, how daylight saving time (DST) in Europe and the United States shifts overlaps, and why specific currency pairs behave differently by session. We will map liquidity rhythms and spreads, identify the catalysts that actually move markets in each window, and turn those insights into practical strategy playbooks you can apply immediately. Just as importantly, we will cover the risk management considerations that change across sessions—where stops belong, how to size positions, when to scale down, and how to avoid common execution traps like chasing in thin liquidity.

Wherever you are on the skill curve—beginner, discretionary swing trader, or systematic portfolio manager—aligning your strategy with session microstructure will improve entries, tighten exits, and reduce slippage. Traders in Singapore have a unique vantage point: they sit at the starting line of the global FX day, with a clear shot at Asian price discovery and two major overlaps to choose from. With a deliberate routine and a clear session framework, you can turn time zones into a durable, repeatable advantage.

Global Sessions at a Glance

Although foreign exchange is decentralized, participants commonly break the day into three dominant windows. The ranges below use approximate UTC hours (they vary by instrument, venue, and DST):

Session	Approx. Hours (UTC)	Primary Hubs	Typical Liquidity	Volatility Profile	Pairs Most Active
Singapore / Asia	01:00–09:00	Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong	Moderate (strongest in regional pairs)	Lower–Moderate; range-prone	USD/JPY, AUD/USD, NZD/USD, USD/SGD, USD/CNH
London / Europe	07:00–16:00	London, Frankfurt, Zurich	Highest; deepest part of the day	Higher; breakouts and trends	EUR/USD, GBP/USD, EUR/GBP, USD/CHF
New York / US	12:00–21:00	New York, Chicago	High, especially during London overlap	High; event-driven moves	USD majors, USD/CAD, risk crosses

Daylight Saving Time and Why Your Overlaps Move

Two regions regularly shift clocks: Europe (British Summer Time for the UK; Central European Summer Time in the EU) and the United States (Daylight Saving Time). Singapore does not shift. As a result, the overlap windows between Singapore and London/New York expand or contract during the year. When Europe and the U.S. “spring forward,” London and New York effectively start one hour earlier relative to Singapore; when they “fall back,” they start one hour later. If your strategy depends on trading overlaps, put these changes in a calendar with alerts. A simple oversight—arriving an hour late to a critical data release—can significantly alter expectations across a year.

Inside the Singapore (Asian) Session

The Asian session lays the foundation for the global day. Liquidity builds as Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong come online, with a noticeable dip around Tokyo lunch and a pick-up as Singapore/Hong Kong hit full stride. The session’s character is shaped by regional macro (Japan, Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore), corporate hedging, and options flows around the Tokyo fix. Asia-centric pairs (USD/JPY, AUD/USD, NZD/USD, USD/SGD, USD/CNH) behave most cleanly, with tighter spreads and more reliable depth than European crosses during the same hours.

Catalysts that matter most: Australia employment and CPI, RBA and RBNZ communications, Japan CPI/Tankan/BoJ remarks, China PMIs and daily CNY fixing (impacting CNH), and Singapore CPI/exports. Risk sentiment handoffs from the U.S. equity close also color early Asia; a sharp risk-off finish can carry into Tokyo and reshape the first hour’s liquidity.

Inside the London Session

London is where price discovery runs at full speed. It captures the Asia–Europe overlap at the open and then dominates turnover through its own data releases (UK, Eurozone) and institutional flow. Spreads compress across majors, breakouts have higher follow-through than in Asia, and positioning shifts can be swift. Because London sits between Asia and New York, it often incorporates genuine Asian impulses and suppresses those that were flow-driven rather than fundamentally rooted.

Catalysts that matter most: UK CPI, GDP, employment, retail sales; Eurozone CPI, PMI, ECB communications; and any top-tier European credit or political headlines. The first 60–120 minutes of London are typically the most kinetic; if you trade breakouts, this is your field.

Inside the New York Session

New York inherits London’s liquidity and overlays it with the world’s most-watched macro prints: U.S. CPI, non-farm payrolls, ISM, retail sales, and FOMC communications. The London–New York overlap (roughly 12:00–16:00 UTC) is the single richest four-hour block for liquidity and volatility combined. After London closes, liquidity gradually thins; late-day reversals can occur as traders square their books. USD majors, USD/CAD, and risk-sensitive crosses dominate the tape, with event-driven bursts common around data times.

Where Overlaps Create Edge

The transitions between sessions are predictable sources of opportunity and risk:

• Asia → London (07:00–09:00 UTC): If Asia set a directional tone on solid catalysts (e.g., AU CPI surprise), London often continues the move with higher participation. If Asia drifted in a range, London frequently resets those boundaries or breaks them on European data.
• London → New York (12:00–16:00 UTC): The day’s deepest liquidity. U.S. data can confirm or reverse London’s direction. Many intraday traders plan their risk budgets around this block.

How Pairs Behave Across Sessions

Every pair has a “personality” that changes with the clock. The table below summarizes common traits:

Pair	Asia (Singapore)	London	New York	Notes for Execution
USD/JPY	Primary discovery; Tokyo fix flow matters	Extends valid Asia moves	Driven by U.S. yields & risk	Watch 00:55–01:05 UTC (Tokyo fix) and UST moves
AUD/USD	Highly reactive to AU data & CNH tone	Trends on commodities/risk	Follows U.S. data & equities	Asia entries often best; carry & CNH correlation matter
NZD/USD	Spiky on NZ data; thinner than AUD	Ride or fade Asia impulse	Event bursts; less depth late	Size down vs AUD; prefer defined risk on data
EUR/USD	Wider spreads; range-prone	Prime time for breakouts	Big U.S. data moves	Reserve size for London/NY; avoid early Asia chasing
GBP/USD	Patchy early, livens near London	Volatile on UK data	Extends or reverses on U.S. prints	Expect larger swings around UK times
USD/SGD	Orderly; policy-aware; range-friendly	Extends macro-consistent moves	Tracks USD tone, risk	Good for disciplined range and post-data follow-through
USD/CNH	Reacts to CNY fix; policy-sensitive	Flows stabilize or extend Asia move	Risk-tone dependent	Mind fix surprises; liquidity varies by venue

Spreads, Depth, and Slippage

Spreads compress when high-quality liquidity providers (LPs) are online and widen when they step back. Asia offers tight spreads in Asia-centric pairs; European crosses often incur higher costs before London. The London open compresses spreads broadly; New York overlap keeps them tight. But data releases can temporarily widen even the best markets. Two practical habits help: (1) use limit orders near known liquidity pockets (session VWAP, well-tested levels), and (2) avoid hitting market orders in the first seconds after a release unless your strategy requires it and you accept slippage explicitly.

Strategy Playbooks by Session

1) Singapore/Asia – Quiet-Range Harvest: On catalyst-light nights, many Asia pairs oscillate within well-defined ranges. Identify the overnight high/low and the midline (e.g., rolling VWAP). Scale into edges with partial orders, target 0.4–0.8× session ATR, and step aside ahead of known events (Tokyo fix, AU/NZ data, CNY fix).

2) Singapore/Asia – Fix Fade/Follow (USD/JPY): The Tokyo fix can create one-way corporate flow. If price sprints into the window without fresh macro drivers and stalls post-fix, fade back to pre-fix mid. If macro aligns with the flow (e.g., BoJ hints, UST move), trade follow-through instead.

3) London – Breakout Confirmation: Build a watchlist of Asia-established ranges. When London opens with European data, take confirmed breaks (close-through with volume) and trail stops beneath the breakout structure. This has higher expectancy than pre-empting the break in Asia.

4) London→New York – Event Momentum: For U.S. CPI/NFP/ISM, predefine three scenarios (beat, meet, miss). Trade only your preplanned scenario using bracket orders or post-release pullbacks. Exit partially into the first extension; trail the rest into overlap liquidity.

5) New York Late – Book-Square Reversal: After London close, moves can fade as books balance. If price extends into low-liquidity air without fresh catalysts, a small, well-defined counter-move back to the New York session mean can be viable. Keep size small; risk reversals are fast.

Risk Management That Adapts to the Clock

Volatility is session-dependent, so risk must be too. In Asia, stops can be tighter relative to ATR; in London and New York, widen stops to avoid noise but keep risk constant by adjusting position size. Into Tier-1 data, either reduce size or move to defined-risk structures (options, guaranteed stops if available). If you cannot monitor key windows (e.g., Tokyo fix, London open, U.S. data), consider flattening or hedging beforehand. Treat overlaps like earnings announcements in equities: your plan must be written down before the bell.

Operational Playbook for Singapore-Based Traders

• Calendar discipline: Build a combined SG/EU/US calendar with local times and DST adjustments. Tag Asia-heavy days (AU CPI, China PMIs) vs Europe/US-heavy days to choose your focus.
• Session KPIs: Track your average win/loss, hit rate, and slippage by session. You may discover your edge is strongest in Asia ranges and weakest in late U.S.—then allocate risk accordingly.
• Pairs by hour: Favor USD/JPY, AUD/USD, NZD/USD, USD/SGD, and USD/CNH in Asia; EUR and GBP majors in London; USD majors and CAD in New York. Let the session pick the instrument.
• Pre-placed orders: For overlap strategies, pre-stage bracket or OCO orders at planned levels with correct size. Remove them if the scenario is invalidated before the event.
• Cost audit: In low-volatility windows, costs eat edge. Log spread+commission+roll at the time you actually trade—not the broker’s marketing. Shift activity toward your cheapest, best-fill hours.

Case Studies: Turning Time into Edge

Case 1 – Asia Range, London Break: AUD/USD spends Asia in a 30–40 pip box, no data. London opens with Eurozone CPI and broad USD weakness. A confirmed break through Asia highs offers a clean trend to ride into the overlap. The trader skips the low-expectancy Asia anticipation and takes the London confirmation instead.

Case 2 – Tokyo Fix Overshoot in USD/JPY: Into the fix, corporates bid USD/JPY 40 pips with no new macro. Post-fix, momentum stalls, spreads normalize, and price slips back to the pre-fix midpoint. A tight fade captures 15–25 pips with risk capped at 10–12 pips, exited before London open risk resets the board.

Case 3 – U.S. CPI in the Overlap: The trader builds three playbooks (hot, inline, cool). CPI prints hot; USD rallies, yields jump. The trader buys a pullback to the first minute’s breakout base with a stop below the post-print higher low, scales at 1R, trails the rest into London close. Written plan beats adrenaline.

Common Mistakes (and Simple Fixes)

• Trading the wrong pair at the wrong time: EUR crosses in early Asia are expensive and thin. Fix: Trade Asia-centric pairs in Asia; save EUR/GBP for London.
• Ignoring DST shifts: Missing overlaps by an hour alters your stats. Fix: Calendar alerts for spring forward/fall back.
• Chasing data candles: First ticks are slippage magnets. Fix: Trade planned pullbacks or use defined-risk straddles.
• One-size-fits-all stops: Asia stops too wide, London stops too tight. Fix: Calibrate to session ATR.
• Overtrading Asia drift: Forcing setups in quiet conditions. Fix: Set a daily trade limit; if no catalyst, harvest the range or stand down.

Putting It All Together

Time is a market variable as real as price or volume. Structure your day so that your tactics match the session’s character: range discipline and fix awareness in Asia; breakout confirmation and trend-riding in London; event momentum and overlap mastery in New York. Track results by clock, not just by pair, and let the data tell you where your edge lives. With the right routine, Singapore’s position at the start of the global day becomes an advantage—one that compounds through better entries, fewer forced trades, and tighter execution where liquidity is deepest.

Conclusion

Forex trading hours are not a backdrop; they are a core input to your strategy. Singapore’s session kicks off the day with Asia-centric discovery—orderly, range-prone, and shaped by regional catalysts and fixings. London then takes the baton, compressing spreads and driving robust price discovery, especially in EUR and GBP majors. New York overlays the world’s most watched data, creating the day’s richest overlap with London and frequent event-driven bursts. Understanding how these sessions interact—and how your target pairs behave inside each—lets you deploy the right tool at the right time.

For traders in Singapore, the practical playbook is clear. First, let the session pick the instrument: trade USD/JPY, AUD/USD, NZD/USD, USD/SGD, and USD/CNH during Asia; shift to EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and EUR/GBP for London; and focus on USD majors and CAD during the New York overlap. Second, set your risk rules by session ATR rather than habit; stops and size that work at 02:00 UTC will not survive 13:30 UTC U.S. CPI. Third, build calendar discipline that respects DST shifts, fix windows, and Tier-1 data. Finally, treat overlaps as premium time: arrive with a written plan, pre-stage orders where appropriate, and execute the scenario you prepared—not the one you hope unfolds.

When you align approach to clock, expectancy improves for reasons that are simple but powerful: you trade where spreads are tightest for the instrument at hand, where real flows are most active, and where catalysts give moves purpose. Over weeks and months, that edge expresses itself in reduced slippage, higher-quality signals, and less emotional churn. The market will always surprise; but if you master the rhythm of Singapore vs London & New York, you will meet those surprises prepared—on time and on plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the exact forex trading hours in Singapore time?

There is no single exchange “open,” but practical liquidity for Asia-centric pairs begins mid-morning Singapore time and builds through the local morning and early afternoon. Use UTC windows as a guide (roughly 01:00–09:00 UTC) and translate to your local clock, remembering that London and New York move with daylight saving time while Singapore does not.

Which session has the tightest spreads for EUR/USD?

London generally offers the tightest spreads and deepest liquidity in EUR/USD, followed by the London–New York overlap. Asia hours often show wider spreads and range-bound behavior in EUR pairs.

What is the best time to trade USD/SGD?

USD/SGD typically trades most cleanly during the Asian and early London hours. It is well-suited to disciplined range strategies between major data and to macro-consistent follow-through after Singapore or regional prints.

How do daylight saving time changes affect overlaps?

When Europe and the U.S. move clocks forward in spring (and back in autumn), their opens shift by one hour relative to Singapore. The Asia–London and London–New York overlaps therefore move by an hour. Set calendar alerts to avoid missing your target window.

What strategies work best in the Asian session?

Fix fade/follow in USD/JPY, quiet-range harvesting in Asia-centric pairs, and CNH-led momentum (using the CNY fix as a compass). Avoid forcing European cross breakouts before London unless there is a strong catalyst.

Is it safe to leave positions open into the London–New York overlap?

Only with a written event plan and appropriate risk controls. Overlap volatility is high, especially around U.S. data. Reduce size or use defined-risk structures if you cannot actively manage the position.

How should I adjust stop-loss size by session?

Calibrate stops to a fraction of the session’s average true range (ATR). Use tighter stops in Asia (lower ATR) and wider in London/New York (higher ATR), while keeping per-trade risk constant by adjusting position size.

Why do my Asia trades often stall at the Tokyo fix?

The fix concentrates one-way corporate flow within a short window, which can exhaust momentum temporarily. Many traders wait for post-fix normalization before initiating or adding to positions.

Which pairs should I avoid during early Asia?

European crosses like EUR/GBP and some exotics can be thin and costly before London. Focus on USD/JPY, AUD/USD, NZD/USD, USD/SGD, and USD/CNH during those hours.

What’s the single best way to improve results across sessions?

Track your performance by session and pair. Most traders discover they have a clear “home field.” Allocate more risk to the hours and instruments where your edge is strongest, and cap activity where it is weakest.