The forex market never really sleeps and is commonly stilled refered to as the 24/7 market.
From Monday morning in Sydney until Friday night in New York, it runs 24 hours a day, five days a week (technically 24/5).
It is more like a relay race around the world, with trading sessions passing the baton from Sydney to Tokyo, London to New York.
For South Africans, this 24-hour rhythm can feel like a puzzle with missing pieces.
One moment you’re sipping morning coffee in Johannesburg, the next you’re wondering if Wall Street has even opened yet.
Search online, and you’ll often find answers in New York (EST) or London (GMT) time, leaving you with mental gymnastics and messy conversions.
The truth is simple: forex does not open at the same time everywhere.
It follows a global relay race, and knowing when the baton reaches South Africa’s time zone is the key.
This guide puts the spotlight on what time does the forex market open in South Africa, importantly in South African Standard Time.
By the end, you’ll have the full map: when trading starts, when it pauses for the weekend, and how international daylight saving shifts ripple into your clock.
Forex Market Opening Times in South Africa Explained
The forex market in South Africa (SAST) opens on Sunday night and closes on Friday night.
Week opens:
- 11:00 p.m. SAST on Sunday when Sydney is on DST (roughly early Oct to early Apr).
- 12:00 a.m. SAST (midnight, Monday) when Sydney is off DST (roughly early Apr to early Oct).
Week closes:
- 11:00 p.m. SAST on Friday when New York is on DST (roughly mid-Mar to early Nov).
- 12:00 a.m. SAST (midnight, Saturday) when New York is off DST (roughly early Nov to mid-Mar).
Between these two bookends, trading continues without pause, rolling from Asia to Europe to North America.
The market opens with Sydney on Monday morning, moves through Asia, hits Europe, then closes in New York on Friday night.
That means it runs non-stop during the week, but it pauses every weekend.
South Africa runs on South African Standard Time (SAST), which stays consistent year-round (no DST).
The forex market is open today if it is within the above SAST times, excluding full market closures (No Trading Worldwide)
- Christmas Day – 25 December
- New Year’s Day – 1 January
This makes things easier for local traders, because you don’t have to adjust for local daylight saving changes.
The challenge comes from abroad: when London, New York, or Sydney move their clocks forward or back, their trading sessions shift against South Africa.
Forex Market Weekly Hours in EST (New York Time)
Week Opens:
- 5:00 p.m. EST Sunday when Sydney is on DST (roughly early Oct to early Apr).
- 6:00 p.m. EST Sunday when Sydney is off DST (roughly early Apr to early Oct).
Week Closes:
- 5:00 p.m. EST Friday when New York is on standard time (mid-Nov to mid-Mar).
- 5:00 p.m. EDT Friday when New York is on daylight saving (mid-Mar to early Nov).
(Note: In EST/EDT, the forex market always closes at 5:00 p.m. local New York time — the “shift” is relative to other time zones, not within New York itself.)
Forex Market Weekly Hours in GMT (London Time, no DST applied)
Week Opens:
- 9:00 p.m. GMT Sunday when Sydney is on DST (early Oct to early Apr).
- 10:00 p.m. GMT Sunday when Sydney is off DST (early Apr → early Oct).
Week Closes:
- 9:00 p.m. GMT Friday when New York is on DST (mid-Mar to early Nov).
- 10:00 p.m. GMT Friday when New York is on standard time (mid-Nov to mid-Mar).
Tokyo is the exception.
Japan does not use daylight saving, so its trading hours remain stable.
Forex Market Hours in SAST (When DST is Active)
This applies when New York and London are on summer time (March–November), and Sydney has already switched to daylight saving (October–April).
(New York & London are in summer time, Sydney already on daylight saving)
| Forex Session | Opening Time (SAST) | Closing Time (SAST) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 11 p.m. | 8 a.m. |
| Tokyo | 1 a.m. | 10 a.m. |
| London | 9 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| New York | 3 p.m. | 11 p.m. |
Forex Market Hours in SAST (When DST is Inactive)
This applies when those regions switch back to standard time (roughly November–March for New York/London, April–October for Sydney).
(New York & London back to standard time, Sydney out of daylight saving)
| Forex Session | Opening Time (SAST) | Closing Time (SAST) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 12 a.m. (midnight) | 9 a.m. |
| Tokyo | 1 a.m. | 10 a.m. |
| London | 10 a.m. | 7 p.m. |
| New York | 4 p.m. | 12 a.m. (midnight) |
Quick Guide: Daylight Saving Time (DST) in Forex Trading
- South Africa: No daylight saving at all as SAST is fixed year-round.
- Sydney (Australia): Clocks move forward in October and back in April. This means Sydney opens earlier in SAST during its summer.
- London (UK): Clocks move forward in March and back in October. London session shifts an hour relative to South Africa twice a year.
- New York (USA): Clocks move forward in March and back in November. New York opens an hour later in SAST once DST ends.
- Tokyo (Japan): No DST as Tokyo session never changes.
DST creates small but important shifts.
For example, New York’s open can flip between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. in South Africa depending on the month.
https://forex-market-hours.com/ – Is a great visually real-time forex market hours clock, a useful tool for forex traders.
Knowing this lets you plan around session overlaps instead of being caught by surprise.
Daily Rollover Times
Most brokers also observe a daily “close and reopen” (New York close charts) at 11:00 p.m. SAST.
This is not the end of the trading day globally, but rather a brief technical reset where spreads may widen, swaps are applied, and liquidity thins.
Why It Matters?
- Weekend gaps: Prices can jump between Friday’s close and Sunday’s open, so set stop losses or reduce exposure before the market shuts.
- Sunday night liquidity: The Sunday night/Monday morning open is often thin, with wider spreads and choppy moves.
- Friday night cutoff: After the New York close, trading halts, no matter what’s happening in global news.
- Daily reset at 11 p.m.: Expect wider spreads and swap charges to apply at this time.
- Best overlaps: Liquidity and volatility are strongest during the London–New York overlap (about 3–6 p.m. SAST depending on DST).
How Global Sessions Translate into South African Time
The forex market moves like a wave across time zones, and for South African traders, understanding how each major session lines up in South African Standard Time (SAST) is essential.
While the market runs 24 hours a day during the week, the character of trading changes depending on which session is active.
Asian Session (Tokyo & Sydney)
The Asian session sets the tone for the trading week.
It begins late Sunday night in South Africa when Sydney opens, followed shortly by Tokyo.
Liquidity here is steadier, with smaller ranges compared to Europe and America.
While many South African traders overlook these hours, they can be useful for planning ahead of the London open.
Read our full guide to the Asian Session in South Africa
London Session
When London opens, the market wakes up.
For South African traders, this usually begins mid-morning, right in the middle of the workday.
Liquidity and volatility rise sharply, making this the most active part of the global cycle.
If you trade majors like GBP/USD or EUR/USD, London hours provide clean moves and tighter spreads.
Read our full guide to the London Session in South Africa
New York Session
New York picks up the baton in the late South African afternoon.
This session often extends London trends or reverses them on major news releases.
For pairs tied to the U.S. dollar, including USD/ZAR: these hours can be decisive.
The close of New York also marks the end of the global trading week on Friday night in South Africa.
Read our full guide to the New York Session in South Africa
Session Overlaps (The Sweet Spot)
The most important overlaps for South African traders are:
- Asian–London overlap (morning SAST): a smooth handover where liquidity builds.
- London–New York overlap (afternoon SAST): the most liquid and volatile hours of the day, often the best time to trade major currency pairs.
These overlaps are where the 24-hour cycle really pays off.
Global participation peaks, spreads tighten, and opportunities multiply.
Why Forex Opening Times Matter for South African Traders
Knowing the exact open and close times is more than trivia.
Forex market open and close times directly shapes your trading strategy.
- Liquidity patterns: The market is thinnest when Sydney opens and deepest during the London–New York overlap. If you trade USD/ZAR or GBP/USD, those busy hours are when spreads are tighter and price action is cleaner.
- Volatility cycles: Asian hours are calmer, making them better for range traders. London brings sharp moves, while New York often extends or reverses those trends.
- Costs and execution: Spreads usually widen at daily rollover (11 p.m. SAST) and at the weekend open. Being aware of this can help you avoid costly entries or stop-outs.
- Weekend exposure: If you hold positions through Friday night, you face the risk of gaps when the market reopens Sunday. A stop-loss or hedge can reduce the shock of Monday morning surprises.
- No surprises from DST: Because South Africa never changes clocks, the shifts you need to watch are always abroad. Once you understand when Sydney and New York flip, you’re a step ahead of many global traders.
In short, timing is part of risk management (believe it or not).
South Africans who align their strategies with these global rhythms avoid chasing the market blind and trade with the tide instead of against it.
Practical Example: Trading USD/ZAR Around the Weekend
Imagine it’s Friday afternoon in Johannesburg.
USD/ZAR has been volatile all week, and you’re holding a long position.
Liquidity is high during the London–New York overlap (3-6 p.m. SAST), but as New York drifts toward closing, activity thins and spreads begin to widen.
| Scenario | Timing (SAST) | What Happens | Risk / Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close Position Friday | Before 11:00 p.m. (DST months) or before 12:00 a.m. Sat (non-DST) | Trade is closed before the market shuts | ✅ Lock in profits, ❌ Miss out on weekend moves |
| Hold Over Weekend | After Friday close → Sunday 11:00 p.m. / 12:00 a.m. open | Exposure remains open through shutdown | ✅ Potential gap in your favour, ❌ Risk of gap against you |
| Wait Until Monday | Skip thin Sunday night open, enter Tokyo/London | Fresh entry in better liquidity | ✅ Tighter spreads, ❌ Miss early Sunday gaps |
You now face a decision:
- Close before Friday 11 p.m. SAST (DST months) to lock in profit and avoid weekend risk.
- Hold through the weekend, knowing that if big U.S. or global news breaks while markets are closed, USD/ZAR could gap against you at Sunday night’s Sydney open (11 p.m. or midnight SAST).
On the flip side, if you’re flat going into Monday, you could wait for that thin, choppy Sunday night open to pass, then enter during the Tokyo or London sessions when liquidity improves.
This example shows that session times aren’t just theory… they decide whether you’re stepping into the market during its most liquid moments, or holding exposure when it’s most vulnerable.
Risk-Management Checklist for South African Traders
- ✅ Avoid opening new trades right before daily rollover (11 p.m. SAST).
- ✅ Be cautious with weekend holds as price gaps can wreck tight stop-losses.
- ✅ Double-check DST shifts in London/New York so your alerts fire at the right times.
- ✅ Use stop-loss orders or hedges if you must keep exposure over the weekend.
- ✅ Plan trades around session overlaps (London–New York especially) for best liquidity.
- ✅ Remember: Tokyo hours don’t change, so they can act as your stable anchor for timing.
Benefits of 24-Hour Forex Trading for South African Traders
The forex market’s 24/5 schedule is one of its biggest advantages compared to local stock exchanges like the JSE.
For traders in South Africa, this flexibility opens several doors:
- Global access: Trade alongside the world’s largest financial centres without being restricted to local JSE hours.
- Flexibility for any lifestyle: Whether you’re an early riser, working 9–5, or a night owl, there’s always a session available that fits your routine.
- Multiple strategies possible: Range trading works well in Asian hours, while breakout and momentum strategies thrive during London–New York overlaps.
- Continuous price discovery: Currencies are influenced by global events in real time, and the 24-hour cycle means you can react immediately instead of waiting for a local market to open.
- Risk diversification: The ability to trade different time zones helps spread exposure. Traders don’t have to depend on one region’s economic calendar.
- Opportunities in overlaps: London–New York overlap (afternoon in South Africa) offers high liquidity and volatility, ideal for tighter spreads and faster execution.
Turning Market Hours Into Your Edge
The forex market may seem complicated, with clocks shifting from Sydney to Tokyo, London to New York.
But once you see how it all maps to South African Standard Time (SAST), it stops being a puzzle and starts being an opportunity.
Note:
- Gold trading in South Africa tends to be most active during the London and U.S. sessions, when global liquidity is at its strongest.
You don’t need Wall Street hours or a desk in London to succeed.
From Johannesburg to Cape Town, you have direct access to the same global marketplace that moves trillions every day.
Your advantage?
South Africa’s time zone doesn’t change.
That stability lets you build a trading routine without constantly adjusting your clock.
Think of it this way:
- Sunday night is your fresh start, the opening bell that says, “the week begins now.”
- Friday night is your finish line, a chance to close strong and step into the weekend with clarity.
- In between, the market is always alive, offering waves of opportunity — calm in the Asian session, powerful momentum from London, and decisive moves out of New York.
The market opens at different hours across the globe, but not all of them are equally profitable. If you want to know which sessions deliver the strongest moves, check our detailed guide on the best time to trade forex in South Africa.
Every new South Africa trader begins by asking, “When does the forex market actually open in SA?”
The ones who stay are those who learn to ride its rhythm, time their trades, and step in when the world’s attention is focused.
You’ve already taken the first step by understanding the hours.
Now, the next step is yours to align your trading with the market’s pulse and turn timing into your edge.
Key Takeaways: What Time Does the Forex Market Open in South Africa
- The forex market opens for South African traders late on Sunday night and closes late on Friday night.
- Week Opens: Sunday 11:00 p.m. SAST (when Sydney is on DST) or Monday 12:00 a.m. (midnight, SAST) when Sydney is on standard time.
- Week Closes: Friday 11:00 p.m. SAST (when New York is on DST) or Saturday 12:00 a.m. (midnight, SAST) when New York is on standard time.
- Daily Flow: Market runs 24 hours a day during the week, rolling through Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York.
- DST Factor: South Africa never changes clocks, but global hubs do. Session times in SAST shift by an hour when Sydney, London, or New York move in or out of daylight saving.
