Best Time to Trade Forex in Kenya – A Guide to the 4 Major Forex Trading Sessions

Over the years, I’ve spent countless hours studying market trends, analyzing currency pairs, and, most importantly, trading. I’ve had my fair share of wins and losses, and through it all, I’ve gained invaluable experience and formed my own opinion on the best time to trade forex in Kenya.

Forex trading is a journey, and like any journey, it has its peaks and valleys. The key to a successful forex trading career is knowing when to make your move. In forex trading, this translates to knowing the best time to enter and exit the market.

Understanding the Forex Market Sessions

The forex market operates 24 hours a day, five days a week. This is one of the reasons why it’s so attractive to many traders – the market is always open.

But not all trading hours are created equal.

The forex market is divided into four major trading sessions:

1. The Sydney session
2. The Tokyo session
3. The London session, and
4. The New York session.

These 4 sessions overlap at certain times, creating periods of high market liquidity and volatility.

The Best Time to Trade Forex in Kenya

Based on my experience, the best time to trade forex in Kenya is during the London session, which is from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM Kenyan time.

This is when the European market – which accounts for nearly 37% of total forex trading volume – is most active.

During this time, you’ll find the highest number of market participants and hence more volatility. More volatility means more trading opportunities.

However, it’s important to note that high volatility also means higher risk. As traders, we need to balance the potential for profit with the risk of loss.

However, the best time to trade forex is not just about the market hours or economic events – it’s also about our personal state of mind.

We’ve all had those days where the markets just seem to speak to us, and our decisions are sharp and well-informed. These are the moments we strive for, because the state of our mental and emotional well-being is just as crucial as the state of the market.

If you find yourself making emotional decisions when you’re suppossed to be keen and attentive, make sure to read this definitive article on how to remove emotions from your trading decisions.

Make sure to read our guide about the Forex Trading Sessions in Kenyan Time for more details.

You should avoid trading when only one session is open; instead, wait for at least 2 sessions to overlap. When two major trading sessions are open, the number of players participating in trading significantly increases. This in turn leads to high liquidity and reduced trading fees.

After the weekend break, the Sydney trading session is the first to open. It opens on Monday at 1:00 AM Kenyan time. It’s closely followed by the Asian Session, which opens at 3:00 AM Kenyan time.

The 2 sessions (Asian and Sydney) have a time overlap of 7 hours (between 3:00 AM and 9:00 AM Kenyan time). Although this overlap isn’t as busy as the London/NY overlap, it still offers forex traders some exciting trading opportunities.

We’ve created a tool to help easily convert the different forex sessions into Kenyan time

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EUR/JPY is the best currency pair to trade during this time as the overlap heavily influences them. The AUD/JPY also sees some good moves during the Tokyo/Sydney overlap.

The London and New York Trading Sessions

The London trading session opens at 11:00 AM and closes at 7:00 PM Kenyan time. As the London session opens, the Asian session is just closing at the hour between 10 and 11 AM.

While day traders in Asia are making their last exits, the ones in London are looking to make their entries.

The 1-hour overlap between the London and Asian trading sessions results in considerable price movement in the Japanese Yen closes, especially the EUR/JPY and GBP/JPY.

Before the London trading session comes to an end, it overlaps with the New York session for 4 straight hours. This happens between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM Kenyan time.

The London/New York overlap is usually the busiest trading time of the day. Most scalpers enjoy trading during this overlap. The markets are liquid and volatile, and a lot pips can be easily earned by a scalper with the right strategy and mindset.

What Time Does the Forex Market Open in Kenya?

One of the other common questions we get asked about forex trading times in Kenya is, at what time does the forex market open in Kenya?

It’s important to note that the forex market remains open for 24 hours during most weekdays. Trading comes to a stop during the weekend with the closing of the New York session on Friday midnight, Kenyan time.

Unfortunately, you and I are human and can’t keep wide awake for the whole of the 24 hours. As such, it is important to get a trading schedule. This raises the question, what is the best forex trading time in Kenya?

Here’s the answer, traders in Kenya probably have the most convenient trading hours of all. If you’re not trading the London session which opens at 11:00 am Local time, you’ll probably be trading between 4 PM and 8:00 PM when the London session and the New York Sessions overlap.

Unless you are a night owl who prefers to trade in the thick of night, the above two will be the best times to trade forex in Kenya.

Understanding the forex trade clock will go a long way in making you a successful forex trader. There are times when the market is super liquid and other times when the market is moving super slow.

So, what is the best forex trading time in Kenya?

1. The London – New York Overlap Window

The best forex trading time in Kenya is between 1600 and 2000 hours (4:00 PM and 8:00 PM local time). At 1600 hours, the London and New York trade sessions start to overlap. The overlap continues up until 2000 hours. The market is most liquid at this time. As a result, most brokers have the lowest spreads at this time.

Apart from the obvious overlap of the two most active sessions, I also (personally) believe that this is the best time for most forex traders in Kenya to get some action going. The session is right at the end of the day, time for most of us to come home from other daytime hustles, grab a quick shower, and settle down to analyze the charts.

By the time the overlap is fading at 8 PM local time, we also fold our trading for the day and get ready to take a most needed shuteye.

Mostly, any market trends that were established during the European session tend to continue during this overlap window. It is therefore important to study what has been happening in the market during the last few hours before you dive in.

More information: New York Session Time in Kenya.

2. The London Session Forex Time

The best time to trade forex in Kenya is during the London session when the most volume occurs. The reason for this is that the London session has the most liquidity, which means that there are more buyers and sellers in the market and prices are more likely to move in response to news and events.

See: London Session Forex Time in Kenya

The London Forex Session is the busiest forex trading session. The reason it is so active is because London is the financial center of the world. Many banks and financial institutions are headquartered in London, and as a result, there is a great deal of foreign exchange activity.

About 30% of all forex trade transactions happen during the London session. Major currencies see moves of 80+ pips during this session.

For more information about the London trading session, read our guide about the London Session Forex Time in Kenya.

And Depending on the time of year, the London forex trading session starts at 10:00 or 11:00 AM Kenya local time.

If you’re a full-time forex trader, the London session, which also happens to be one of the most liquid sessions, offers you ample time to trade. The session remains open until  7/8 PM. This is more than enough time for a full-time forex trader to open and close positions without keeping some ungodly hours.

Best Time to Trade EUR/USD in Kenya

The Eur/Usd is the most traded currency in the world. It is one of the most liquid currency pairs to trade, and therefore attracts some of the lowest spreads across all forex brokers.

But what is the best time to trade eur/usd in Kenya?

We have got the answer to that. Simply read our comprehensive guide about the best time to trade EURUSD in Kenya.

The best time to trade eur/usd in Kenya is between 4:00 P.M and 8:00 P.M (local time). This 4 hour window is when the London and New York forex trading sessions overlap. There is a lot of trading activity at this time. Spreads are at their best and the market is volatility is at an all time high.

Most successful forex traders in Kenya, including scalpers and day traders prefer to trade during this overlap session. It is the best time to spot trading opportunities with great profit potential.

While it might feel productive to sit down on your computer for 12 hours trying to catch trading opportunities, trading the EUR/USD for just these few hours might prove to be the most profitable.

Best Days of the Week to Trade Forex in Kenya

Apart from knowing the best time to trade forex in Kenya, knowing the best days to trade will also have a significant impact on how successful you become. Most action in the market happens in the middle of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday).

Conclusively, knowing the best days and time to trade forex in Kenya will help you manage your schedule effectively. While the forex market is open 24 hours every trading day, it doesn’t mean that you have to trade all hours. If you plan on becoming a successful forex trader in Kenya, you’ll need to have a trading plan.

The Importance of Economic News in Forex Trading

In my years of trading, I’ve learned that economic news plays a crucial role in the forex market. Major economic events, such as the NFP, interest rate decisions, GDP reports, and employment data, can cause significant market movements.

As a forex trader in Kenya, it’s important to keep an eye on international economic news.

For instance, if you’re trading the EUR/USD pair, you should be aware of the economic news from both the Eurozone and the United States.

I usually check the economic calendar at the beginning of the week and plan my trading activities around the major economic events. This strategy has helped me avoid unexpected market volatility and make informed trading decisions.

Bottom Line

There is no one definitive answer to this question. Different traders have different opinions on the best time to trade forex. Some people believe that trading during the daytime is the best way to go, while others prefer to trade at night. Some traders focus on major currency pairs, while others trade a wider range of currencies. There is no one perfect answer to this question – it all depends on the individual trader and what strategies they are using.

However, there are some general tips that can help you find the best time to trade forex. One of the most important things is to pay attention to global events. For example, if there is a major news announcement coming out, you will want to avoid trading during that time. You will also want to pay attention to economic indicators, such as the GDP and CPI. If there is a major release coming out, you will want to avoid trading until after the data has been released.

Other things to consider include market volatility and your own personal schedule. If you are a day trader, you will want to trade during the most volatile times of the day. If you are a swing trader or position trader, you may want to trade during more stable times of the day. And finally, remember to always follow your own trading plan and never trade based on emotions.

Ultimately, the best time for you to trade forex will depend on which currency you intend to trade. Most trading activity for a specific currency will when the particular trading session is open. For instance, if you intend to trade AUD/JPY, the best time to trade would be when both the Sydney and Tokyo sessions are open.

Frequently Asked Questions About Forex Trading Time in Kenya?