Forex trading is an altogether a totally different beast as compared to stock trading. One of the major differences between the forex and stock markets is that forex markets are open 24 hour, 5 days a week while stock markets have fixed timings. For example New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 Pm. You can only trade stocks at NYSE during this time.
Continuous 24 hour action at the forex markets baffles many new traders. Forex markets have no central exchange. It is an Over the Counter (OTC) market that is spread over various locations in the world.
As there is no open and close of the forex market, many new traders get confused and dont know when the best time when major price action takes place is? So they sit in front of the computer all the time and in the end simply exhaust themselves losing their stamina. A clever way is to divide the 24 hour day into three 8 hour sessions.
Again divide each 8 hour session in 4 hours by using 4 hour charts. As you will read this article, I will explain how this division is logical and can help you understand the forex markets. Forex markets are basically controlled by three money centers and these three sessions will help you identify the risk appetite and the price action for each.
These three money center that are central to the forex markets are: Asia, London and New York. So by dividing the 24 hours into three sessions we will call each session as the Asian, the London and the New York Session.
Asian FX Market Session: Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore are the main centers that constitute the Asian Session. Export corporations and Central Banks of these countries are trying to hedge their currency fluctuations. Due to this price action is jumpy, fades away and is not sustainable.
London Session: London is still the forex capital of the world with deep and highly liquid forex market. Paris, Geneva and Frankfurt also are players in this session. The moves that originate in this session are very important keeping in view the amount of money needed to move a market this deep. These moves give you a lot of information about the market sentiments and positions.
New York Session: New York comes as the second forex center after London. Both these markets overlap in the morning when New York is opening and London is closing. This is the time when lot of action takes place.
These timings are important for you to know: 00:00 GMT-Sydney starts trading. 11:00 GMT-London trading starts. 15:00 GMT- London trading becomes very active. 17:00 GMT- London trading is active and New York trading opens. 18:00 GMT- London and European trading closes! 19:00 GMT- New York and Chicago traders getting ready for a close!
The overlap between London and New York is when major price moves take place. London is in fact the trend setter in forex as well as fashion.
