I just realized that the opening and closing times of the forex market are more important than many people think. If you know what time the forex market opens, it's like having a little secret information that helps you make more profit. It's not just about luck or strategy, but about choosing the right time.

Fortunately, the forex market is spread around the world and doesn't open and close all at once. If you look at the trader's screen, you'll see that we can trade many currencies, but each currency has its own opening and closing times depending on the time zone of that country.

Let's see when the major currencies open and close, based on Thai time:

Australia (AUD) opens at 05:00 and closes at 13:00. This market is in the Mega-Market group but the smallest. When it opens on Sunday afternoon, there’s usually quite a bit of price movement because many factors need to be regrouped after the market closed since Friday.

Japan (JPY) opens at 06:00 and closes at 14:00. The USD/JPY pair is very popular among traders because it’s part of the Mega-Market that’s interesting. But you need to watch it closely because sometimes the price goes too high.

Switzerland (CHF) opens at 13:00 and closes at 21:00. It’s a stable market within the European group because the country’s economy is strong.

Europe (EUR) opens at 14:00 and closes at 23:00. This currency is the real core of the large forex market, with high value and full of liquidity. Despite news impacts, it remains stable.

London (GBP) opens at 15:00 and closes at 23:00. The pound remains one of the most valuable currencies, but you need to be cautious because news can affect it quickly.

America (USD) and Canada (CAD) open at 19:00 and close at 03:00. These markets are huge, with the dollar circulating worldwide—about 90% of global transactions—making the question of what time the forex market opens very important for trading.

Now, the question is: what is the best time to trade forex? It’s not just about the opening time but about when multiple markets are open simultaneously, called overlap. This is the best period because when money flows from several markets, signals become clearer, and the chance to profit increases.

From 06:00 to 13:00 is when Australia (AUD) and Japan (JPY) are both active. It’s not the longest overlap, but it’s enough for Thai traders who need to work during the day.

But the most optimal period is from 19:00 to 23:00 when America (USD) and London (GBP) are both active. Over 70% of all forex trading happens during this time because these two markets are the most important Mega-Markets.

If you trade EUR and GBP from 15:00 to 23:00, that’s good because the markets are open together for a long time. Usually, you’ll see quite a bit of pip movement toward the end.

EUR and CHF are also good because both are European currencies. From 14:00 to 21:00, liquidity flows from similar economies, making trading easier.

But that’s not all—news also needs to be monitored. Forex news comes constantly in the form of GDP data, wages, central bank announcements, and interest rates. All of these can turn the game around instantly.

A simple rule is: if a country has a high interest rate, foreign investors tend to flow in, strengthening that country’s currency. If the country’s people consume a lot and the economy grows, GDP rises, which also increases the currency’s value.

In summary, the best time to trade forex depends on which currency you’re trading. If you trade EUR, watch EUR’s open and close times; if USD, then USD’s. The overlapping hours are the golden time, but you also need to balance your personal schedule. Whether you’re working or trading full-time, always study news and keep learning. Over time, you’ll find the optimal periods for making profits.