What Is the New York Session?
The New York session refers to the hours during which financial markets in New York are open for trading. It’s one of the major global trading sessions, alongside Sydney, Tokyo and London, and is widely regarded as one of the most active periods in the global trading day.
New York Session Hours
| Session |
Approx. Local Open |
Approx. Local Close |
| Sydney |
7:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
| Tokyo |
9:00 AM |
6:00 PM |
| London |
8:00 AM |
5:00 PM |
| New York |
8:00 AM |
5:00 PM |
Times are approximate local hours and can vary with daylight saving changes.
Why the New York Session Matters
The New York session overlaps with the end of the London session for several hours, a period that often sees increased trading volume and volatility, since participants from both major financial centres are active at once.
Liquidity During the New York Session
The New York session typically brings strong liquidity to currency pairs involving the US dollar, given the size and depth of US financial markets. This generally translates into tighter spreads and smoother execution for dollar-related pairs during these hours, compared to quieter periods when fewer participants are active. Traders focused on USD pairs often plan around this session specifically because of the liquidity it tends to bring.
Economic Releases During the New York Session
Many significant US economic releases, including employment data and Federal Reserve announcements, are scheduled during New York trading hours, adding to the session’s reputation for higher volatility. Traders aware of the economic calendar for a given day can anticipate when these releases might add to the usual increase in activity already associated with this part of the trading day.
Trading Strategy Around the New York Session
Some traders specifically time their entries around the opening of the New York session, or the overlap with London, to take advantage of the increased volume typically seen during these hours. Others prefer to avoid this period altogether if they’re uncomfortable with the faster price movement it can bring, opting instead for quieter sessions that better suit a more measured trading approach.
The New York Session and the US Dollar Index
Because the New York session brings together the deepest pool of US dollar liquidity, broad measures of dollar strength, such as the US Dollar Index, often see some of their most significant daily movement during these hours. Traders monitoring overall dollar sentiment, rather than a single currency pair, frequently pay close attention to how the index behaves once New York trading gets underway.
Adjusting for Daylight Saving Time
Because the New York session’s local hours don’t always align with global time zones in a fixed way, daylight saving time changes in the US, and in a trader’s own location, can shift when the session effectively begins and ends from their perspective. Checking session times in a consistent reference time zone, such as GMT, can help avoid confusion around these seasonal shifts.
Where the Trading Day Often Peaks
The New York session caps off the trading day with some of its highest activity, particularly during its overlap with London. Knowing when it runs helps traders anticipate when conditions may pick up, and plan around the busiest hours rather than being caught off guard by them.
⚠ Risk Warning:CFDs are complex financial instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Ensure you fully understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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