As European traders return from their lunch break, the New York session prepares to open. The New York session begins at 8:00 AM EST, when traders start arriving at their desks. Similar to Europe and Asia, the United States has a single primary financial center: New York City. A significant portion of forex transactions takes place here. The New York session is also commonly referred to as the North American session.

Key hours for the New York session are as follows (all times in EST):

Open: 8 AM

Close: 5 PM

London Overlap: 8 AM - 12 PM

Tokyo Overlap: None

Key Considerations for Trading the New York Session

First, keep in mind that spreads and pip values can fluctuate during the trading session based on market liquidity and other market conditions. Here are several other factors to monitor:

1. The New York session tends to see exceptionally high liquidity in the morning when it overlaps with the European session.

2. Volatility and liquidity begin to decline as European markets head into the close.

3. Most economic reports are released around the New York open. Because the vast majority of trades involve the US Dollar, these releases have the potential to drive significant market movement.

4. Friday afternoons typically see limited movement, as European and Asian traders have already wrapped up for the weekend.

Best Currency Pairs to Trade During the New York Session

Substantial liquidity enters the market when the New York session and European markets are open concurrently. Consequently, opportunities can arise across nearly every major currency pair. Many traders focus on US economic data, given that the US Dollar is involved in the majority of transactions. Always monitor incoming data releases, as they can heavily impact market direction.

With disciplined execution, navigating the New York session alongside its deep connections to European and Asian markets offers strong profit potential when trading forex during US hours.