The foreign exchange market is a decentralized global market that traders can use to trade currencies. The Forex market never really closes.
Popularly known as the Forex market, it is responsible for determining the foreign exchange rates for every currency in the world and allows you to trade money to get your desired currency. Forex trading is performed online and through the phone all over the world.
If you consider it from a global perspective, the Forex market doesn’t close down. Because of the time difference implemented worldwide, there is at least one Forex market open somewhere.
There may be a shorter time in which a market closes down, and another reopens. This makes it possible for international currency traders to quickly trade currencies without any delays or hurdles.
Since money is required in different currencies for trading, banking services, and the facilitation of businesses all over the world, the Forex market is always open.
Ever since most countries dropped the gold standard and adopted reserve currencies, banks and financial services rely on Forex markets daily.
Why are Forex Markets Open Around the Clock?
The main reason for the 24-hour trading availability of Forex markets is due to international time zones, which means that at least one region has Forex markets open while others are closed.
Trading happens through a computer network rather than a single physical computer at an exchange. This means that even if the Forex market in your region has closed down, you can continue trading in other open regions.
Therefore, if you are trading another currency for the U.S. Dollar and it closes at a specific rate, this means that the New York market has closed down, but trading will still resume in other markets across the globe.
Can Securities Also Be Traded Throughout the Day?
Although you can trade currencies around the clock, you can’t trade securities in the same way. Securities refer to stocks, bonds, and commodities, and they aren’t as essential in the international market.
This is why they are limited to domestic trading, i.e., when the stock exchange in your region is open. Therefore, you can’t trade shares and stocks at midnight, and you would have to adhere to a morning routine to trade securities.
Which Region Starts Forex Trading First?
A typical trading day starts with the reopening of the Forex markets in the Australia-Asia area. After that, Europe’s financial centers open up in London, Paris, Zurich, Frankfurt, and other regions.
Next up, the Forex markets open up all over North America. By the time the markets in Australasia close, the markets in Europe are beginning to open up, and so forth. Usually, there are periods of overlap between these markets, which make for the most active trading periods.
For instance, if you wake up at 5 am in Australia, the Forex market in your region won’t open for a few hours. However, if you still want to perform trading or convert currencies, you may be able to approach the Forex markets in Europe or North America and conduct as many trades as you desire.
Understanding the Key Forex Markets
When it comes to international trading markets, many financial institutions are involved, such as private banks, central banks, investment management companies, hedge funds, Forex brokers, etc.
Except for the weekend, you can conduct trading at any time convenient for you. The Forex market comprises a network of exchanges and brokers, and the following is a set of timeslots that can help you trade throughout the day:
- London: 8 am to 5 pm UTC
- New York: 1 pm to 10 pm UTC
- Sydney: 10 pm to 7 am UTC
- Tokyo: 12 am to 9 am UTC
As you can see, the most active trading time zones are from London and New York. They overlap for around 4 hours in between and account for more than half of the trading volume every day.
Although the Forex market is generally open 24 hours a day, not all currencies are traded round-the-clock. The currencies you can trade at all times include the U.S. Dollar, euro, Japanese Yen, British Pound, and the Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand Dollar.
Conclusion
The Forex market is open for business around the clock, and you can trade currencies at any time. However, make sure to keep an eye on the foreign exchange rates, as they fluctuate pretty quickly when the markets are open.
