Overseas FX Trading Hours and Server Time: DST and Daily Candle Close
Is the time on your chart out of sync with Japan time, leaving you unsure when to trade?
In short, treat trading hours as a rough guide in Japan time, and server time as a separate standard set by each broker. Daylight saving shifts things by one hour.
This article sorts out the main trading sessions and when the daily candle closes. By the end, you can convert your own account's time to Japan time.
In short: keep overseas FX trading hours separate from server time
- The currency market runs almost 24 hours on weekdays, from early Monday morning to early Saturday morning
- In Japan time, the open and close are one hour earlier during daylight saving time than in winter time
- MT4/MT5 server time is a standard set by the broker and differs from Japan time
- The daily candle close and swap credits are decided by the server-time day change
- Exact times differ by broker, so check the official page
Overseas FX trading hours run from early Monday to early Saturday
The currency market works as major markets around the world open in turn, so trading continues 24 hours on weekdays. On weekends the major markets are closed, so you cannot trade.
In Japan time, the market generally opens in the early hours of Monday and closes in the early hours of Saturday. During daylight saving time, these times are one hour earlier than in winter time.
Main trading sessions by market (Japan time)
| Market | Winter time (approx.) | Daylight saving time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 9:00-15:00 or so | 9:00-15:00 or so |
| London | 17:00 to 2:00 next day or so | 16:00 to 1:00 next day or so |
| New York | 22:00 to 7:00 next day or so | 21:00 to 6:00 next day or so |
| End of week (early Saturday) | around 7:00 | around 6:00 |
The hours when London and New York overlap tend to be the most active. Prices move more, so watch for wider spreads and variation in execution.
When daylight saving time starts and ends, and the shift from Japan time
The US and Europe start and end daylight saving time on different dates. It helps to check the exact dates each year.
| Region | DST starts | DST ends |
|---|---|---|
| US | Second Sunday in March | First Sunday in November |
| Europe | Last Sunday in March | Last Sunday in October |
The US and Europe switch dates a few weeks apart. During that gap, the time difference between London and New York differs from usual, so take care when converting release times to Japan time.
MT4/MT5 server time and when the daily candle closes
The time shown on MT4/MT5 charts is server time, not Japan time. The broker decides the server time standard.
Many brokers close the daily candle to match the end of the New York market. They shift server time between daylight saving and winter time to keep the daily boundary in place.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Server time standard | Set by the broker in its terms or official page (separate from Japan time) |
| Daily candle boundary | Often aligned with the New York close |
| Time switching | Some brokers move server time by one hour for daylight saving and winter time |
| Difference from Japan time | Changes with the season, so review it twice a year |
A simple way to check is to compare the time of the latest candle on your trading screen or chart with the current Japan time. Once you know the gap, you can convert to Japan time.
How the number of daily candles and the close time matter
Some brokers have 5 daily candles per week, while others add a short Sunday candle for 6. A different count changes values such as moving averages.
If an EA's logic uses the daily open or the previous day's high and low, different boundaries can shift the results. Recheck its behavior when you change brokers.
Rollover and when swap is credited
Rollover is the process of carrying a position over to the next business day. Swap points are credited at the server-time day change.
At many brokers, three days of swap are credited at the Wednesday rollover. This is because weekend days are calculated together.
- Rollover happens around the server-time day change
- Converted to Japan time, the rollover time moves by one hour between daylight saving and winter time
- The day with three days of swap may differ by broker or currency pair
- Spreads tend to widen around the day change, so watch execution too
How swap is calculated is covered in a separate article. Before holding a position overnight, it helps to check the credit time and day.
Checking economic release times and when cashback is credited
Economic release times are often published in local time. Because of daylight saving time, they can shift by one hour in Japan time.
- 1
Check the local time
On an indicator calendar, check the release's local time and whether that region is on daylight saving time.
- 2
Convert to Japan time
If the calendar shows Japan time, you can use it as is. Review the setting beforehand.
- 3
Compare with server time
Work out the gap between chart time and Japan time, then find the candles around the release.
From the list of supported brokers, you can check trading hours and server time specifications on each broker's official page.
See trading conditions of supported brokersFAQ
Q.What are the trading hours for overseas FX?
As a general guide, in Japan time they run from early Monday morning to early Saturday morning. During daylight saving time the market opens and closes one hour earlier than in winter time. They differ by broker, so check the official page.
Q.How do I find the difference between MT4 server time and Japan time?
Compare the time of the latest candle or quote with the current Japan time. The gap can change between daylight saving and winter time, so also check your broker's official page.
Q.At what server time does the daily candle close?
Many brokers close it around 0:00 server time, matching the end of the New York market. Methods differ by broker, so check the official page of the broker where you hold an account.
This article is for information purposes only and is not investment advice. Conditions may change, so please check each broker's official page for the latest information. Offshore FX and CFD trading carries a risk of losses exceeding your principal.
