What is a Forex Pair?

A Forex pair is a combination of 2 different foreign currencies used in the Forex market for trading. In Forex trading, currencies are always traded in pairs. And every currency pair has a symbol or symbolic name for easy identification.

The first currency of a currency pair is called the base currency, and the second currency is called the quote currency. While trading currencies, you either buy the base currency and sell the quote currency or vice versa.

For example, GBP/USD is a currency pair where GBP (British Pound) is the base currency and the USD (US Dollar) is the quote currency.

Each pair works as a single unit. And you can profit or lose from the price fluctuations of the exchange rates between those currencies.

Different Types of Forex Pairs- Majors, Minors, and Exotics

There are mainly 3 types of Foreign currency pairs based on liquidity and USD involvement. They are-

1. Major Currency Pairs- Most Traded Pairs

These are the pairs always including the USD (US Dollar), best known for high liquidity. These are the best forex pairs for beginners. However, professional advanced traders also trade on these currency pairs.

There are mainly 7 major currencies, and when making a pair, they come with USD, such as- the British pound (GBP/USD), Euro (EUR/USD), Australian dollar (AUD/USD), Japanese yen (USD/JPY), Swiss franc (USD/CHF), New Zealand Dollar (NZD/USD), and Canadian Dollar (USD/CAD).

2. Minor Currency Pairs- Best for Institutional Traders

These are the Forex pairs without any USD (US Dollar). Minor pairs are created by combining 2 major pairs except USD, such as EURGBP (Euro/British pound), EURCHF (Euro/Swiss Franc), GBPJPY (British pound/Japanese Yen), etc.

Due to comparatively higher spreads, like 1 to 2 pips movement, most of the institutional professionals and hedgers trade on these minor pairs.

3. Exotic Currency Pairs- Lower Liquidity, Higher Spreads

These are the pairs combining one major currency with another from a developing or less-traded country. Such as EUR/TRY (euro/Turkish lira), USD/TRY (US dollar/Turkish lira), African Rand (USD/ZAR), etc.

Traders rarely trade on exotic pairs due to higher spreads and low liquidity pools. And most often, trading exotic pairs leads to improper order fills, causing huge losses sometimes.

Note: Beginner traders without any trading and market knowledge sometimes seem to trade exotic pairs, making one of the biggest mistakes in their trading journey.

What Makes a Forex Pair “Best” to Trade?

Active trading sessions, lower spreads, and higher liquidity make a pair the best to trade in Forex. Let’s break them down how:

Liquidity

The Forex market itself is the largest liquid market. But there are around 180 currencies. And liquidity differs a little bit among these pairs. Gold (XAU) and USD have the highest liquidity pool, making them the best Forex currencies.

As we know, higher liquidity means higher opportunity. If you trade a pair with higher liquid assets, you can enter/exit trades, avoiding slippage. So, make sure to trade the pairs with the most liquidity across all the sessions.

Trading Session

The trading session, or time of trading, is crucial to finding the best pair to trade. Peak trading time is different for different trading sessions.

For example, the minor currencies like the NZDJPY or AUDJPY are the best for trading in the Asian session, whereas GBPUSD is best for trading in the London session.

Volatility

Volatility comes from the pip movement in the Forex market. Some forex pairs are stable with lower volatility with fewer pip movements, and some are not stable and highly volatile with higher pip movements.

For example, USD is the most stable currency with higher liquidity. Contrarily, exotic pairs are mostly volatile and nearly impossible to predict, with larger pip movements increasing the spreads.

Top 5 Best Forex Pairs to Trade in 2025

EUR/USD, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, USD/JPY, and USD/CHF are the best Forex currency pairs to trade in 2025. So, mainly the best pairs. These Forex pairs are also the most traded in the Forex market.

1. EUR/USD (Euro vs US Dollar)

EURUSD is the most traded Forex pair in the world. Nickname for this pair is FIber. It has higher liquidity, as the currencies in this pair represent the two largest economies. This pair is best for trading during the London and New York sessions.

According to the BestBroker report, the EUR/USD pair has recorded a total of $1.71 trillion in daily trade volume, which represents a 7.6% increase.

And August 2025 data shows the EURO alone holds 20.6% trade dominance in the Forex market, which makes it the most traded Forex pair.

Changes in the currency value of the Euro and USD can influence the volatility of this pair. Besides, European Central Bank (ECB) policies and US Fed announcements can impact the volatility.

2. GBP/USD (British Pound vs US Dollar)

Here comes another best Forex pair to trade, especially during the London and overlap sessions.

Pound is known to be the oldest currency and seems to be traded with more than 100+ pips daily. It’s said to be ideal for trend or breakout strategies, but beware of higher spreads during UK news.

3. AUD/USD (Australian Dollar vs US Dollar)

Nicknamed “Aussie,” this pair is one of the best-traded pairs. This pair often seems to be influenced by the commodity price changes, particularly Gold (XAU) and China’s demand.

This pair is best to trade during the Asia and US overlap sessions. However, news from the US, Australia, and even China can sharply move the prices.

4. USD/JPY (US Dollar vs Japanese Yen)

This Forex pair is also known as the Yen pair, and its nickname is Gopher. The USDJPY pair is active during the Asian sessions. So, trading USDJPY in the Asian and NY sessions gives more flexible trading windows.

US data, events, and announcements from the Bank of Japan influence the volatility of this currency pair. Technically, this pair shows large pip movement. But with proper risk setups and trading strategies, trading the USDJPY pair can be profitable too.

5. USD/CHF (US Dollar vs Swiss Franc)

The nickname for this currency pair is the Swissie or Swiss Franc. This Forex pair is often considered the safe-haven pair, so it is ideal for hedging and institutional professionals. 

The London session is the best for trading the UCHF pair. However, the London-New York overlap session is also the best time to trade the Swissie pair.

The Swissie pair is also known for the lowest interest rate worldwide after the Swiss National Bank interest announcements, making this pair a safe haven and one of the best pairs for carry trading and hedging.

Most Profitable Forex Pairs

Major Forex pairs tend to be the most profitable currency pairs. Profitability depends on trader behavior and trading styles. So, if your goal is to find a profitable Forex pair, you need to have at least a medium to experienced level of trading experience in the forex market and knowledge of the forex pairs.

Though profitability depends on the trader, major Forex pairs, which means the pairs with the USD (US Dollar), are considered to be the most profitable currency pairs.  

Among these, EURUSD, GBPUSD, and USDJPY are the most profitable due to higher liquidity and lower spreads.

Some other reasons include-

Most Traded Forex Pairs in 2025

As of Q2 2025, EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/JPY remain the top traded pairs globally. The table below shows the most traded currency pairs for different Forex markets.

In the UK Forex market, EUR/USD remained the most traded Forex pair, exceeding $1 trillion daily trade volume, which was $797.5 billion in 2024.

In the US market, the same EUR/USD was ranked as the most traded pair with $296.4 billion of daily trade volume, which was $239.8 billion on average in 2024.

The Singapore Foreign Exchange Market Committee (SFXMC) shows that USD/JPY was the most traded Forex pair in Q2, 2025, with $5.7 trillion daily trade volume, which was $6 trillion in October, 2024.

The Hong Kong Forex Market has seen USD/RMB (US Dollar vs Chinese Yuan Renminbi) to be the top-performing currency pair in 2025, along with USD/HKD (USD vs Hong Kong Dollar) and USD/JPY.

The Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market Committee (TFEMC) reveals that USD/JPY was the most traded pair in Japan in April 2025, with a daily trade volume of $284.7 billion on average. And it’s a 51% cruise from the 2024 daily trade volume.

Which Forex Pairs Are Best for Different Trading Styles?

Scalpers prefer USD/JPY and NZD/USD; day traders favor EUR/USD; swing traders go for major pairs; position traders use USD/CAD and EUR/CHF. Besides, based on different trading styles and market movements, you can trade different Forex pairs. That’s why choosing the best Forex pair depends on when and how you are trading.

Here is the breakdown for different trading styles:

Best Forex Pairs for Scalping

Though for scalping, gold (XAUUSD) is considered the best pair for scalping. But for Forex pairs, USD/JPY and NZD/USD are the best Forex pairs for scalping-style trading.

Scalpers typically use 1- to 15-minute timeframes. Their trading style is mainly pip-focused. So, scalpers prioritize technical analysis over fundamentals. Beginners in scalping or experienced professionals trade USDJPY and USDNZD for scalping.

Best Forex Pairs for Day Trading

USDJPY, EURUSD, and AUDUSD are the best Forex pairs for day trading. Day traders, or intraday traders, mainly trade Forex, focusing on the trade sessions.

Trading these pairs during the London and New York sessions can ensure the best profits from these pairs. For beginners, EURUSD is the best pair for a day trading style, and for professionals, GBP or JPY is the best. Besides, SSF day trading signals can be profitable for beginner Forex traders.

Best Forex Pairs for Swing Trading

For swing trading, choosing the major pairs works best for any type of trader. However, the swing trading style does not need session focus. Unlike scalping, swing traders mostly use 1H (hour) to 4H timeframes.

Most of the professional traders trade the major Forex pairs, and recent data shows that many beginner retail traders trade minor pairs for swing trading styles.

Best Forex Pairs for Position Trading

Position trading requires holding trades for weeks to even months. So, highly volatile pairs are not suitable for this trading style. Beginners don’t usually do position trading.

Mostly highly professional traders, advanced traders, or professional hedgers or speculators from Banks and Financial Institutions (BFI) use position trading for portfolio management and hedging.

Position traders choose pairs based on their strategies, fundamental analysis, and institutional data. So, technical analysis or volatility shifts don’t matter much for position traders.

However, USDCAD, EURCHF are known to be the best currency pairs for position trading.

How to Choose Profitable Forex Pairs?

Major news events, geopolitical news, and trade sessions must be considered to choose profitable currency pairs. No matter if you are a beginner or an advanced professional trader, the following factors are a must to consider when you choose the pair for trading:

• Trade Sessions & Your Time Zone
The time zone from where you are trading is crucial to picking the profitable Forex pairs. For example, you live in London. So, according to your time zone, trading GBPUSD will be the most profitable pair for you to trade.

Besides, trading during the overlap sessions is best for the major pairs.

• Central Bank Divergence & Interest Rate Gaps
Different announcements from the central bank and interest rate decisions can shift the market volatility. So, based on your regional news events, make sure to pick the best currency pair.

• Commodity Linkages
AUD, CAD, and NZD pairs are largely influenced by commodity price changes, such as oil, gold, etc. So, make sure to check the news or price changes while trading these pairs.

• Geopolitical Events
Sudden events like the Ukraine-Russia critical situation or the COVID-19 pandemic, etc., can influence the market movement, causing volatility shifts. So, make sure to trade more carefully during such major geopolitical or economic events.

Tips to Choose the Best Forex Pair for You

Choosing the major pairs is the best and most evergreen tip. USD pairs are the most stable currency pairs for trading.

Such other expert advice is as follows

Final Words

Choosing the best Forex pairs to trade requires your trading skills and the trading session when you trade. Besides, to be in the safest zone is to trade the major pairs only for profitable trading.

However, solid risk management strategies, like using proper stop-loss and take profit, and never risking more than 1% of your total capital, are key to successful Forex trading.

Well, if you are a beginner and still learning Forex trading, you can try SureShotFX signals for profitable trades. With 99% accuracy and a previous performance record, SSF signals are making the edge among Forex traders, offering both free and paid VIP Forex signals.

For more information, contact the SSF support team, available 24/7 for you.

FAQs

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This continuous market cycle allows traders to participate in Forex trading at any time during the workweek, but understanding the details of FX market hours is essential for success. Knowing when to trade, when the market is most active, and how to align your strategy with global Forex trading sessions can make a significant difference in your trading outcomes.

In this blog, we will dive deep into the best time to trade Forex and explore how the different Forex session times can impact your trading results. Whether you’re looking for high volatility or more relaxed trading conditions, aligning your strategy with the Forex market hours can be a game-changer. Let’s explore the Forex session times and the best hours to trade Forex.

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What are the Forex Market Hours?

Forex market trading hours are the periods during which the global foreign exchange market is open for trading. This is the time when traders and investors buy and sell currencies in the FX market to get profits. This market operates 24/5, from Sunday evening to Friday evening (in GMT time). 

The market is decentralized, meaning there is no central exchange. Instead, it consists of a network of global banks, financial institutions, brokers, and individual traders connected electronically. The Forex market operates across different time zones, with each major financial center—such as London, New York, Tokyo, and Sydney—having specific trading hours.

Understanding FX Market Hours:

Understanding Forex’s major sessions is crucial for traders to maximize trading opportunities and manage risk effectively. The Forex market is divided into four primary trading sessions, each driven by the opening of financial markets in key global regions. 

The four major Forex trading sessions are:

• London Session– 8:00 am GMT – 4:00 pm GMT
• New York Session– 1:00 pm GMT – 10:00 pm GMT
• Tokyo Session– 12:00 am GMT – 9:00 am GMT
• Sydney Session– 10:00 pm GMT – 7:00 am GMT

Each session has distinct characteristics and peak activity periods, influenced by regional market openings.

Specific Sessions and High-Volume Hours:

Let’s take a closer look at each session and the best time for Forex trading during these hours.

1. London Forex Trading Hours

The London session is one of the most important sessions in the Forex market, accounting for a significant portion of daily Forex currency trading times. This session overlaps with both the New York and Tokyo sessions, leading to high currency market volatility and trading volume.

The London session typically sees increased liquidity, especially for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/JPY currency pairs. Traders look for opportunities in the most volatile Forex pairs during this time, as major economic reports and news releases from Europe impact the market.

2. New York Session Forex Trading

The New York session is the second-largest Forex trading session and starts at 1 PM GMT, ending at 10 PM GMT. This session overlaps with the last few hours of the London session, which is typically when the market sees the most significant price movements. 

The New York session is critical for traders interested in trading the US dollar (USD) and other major currency pairs, like USD/JPY, EUR/USD, and GBP/USD. The overlap between the London and New York session Forex pairs (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM GMT) is ideal for trading USD pairs, especially during the New York session Forex news releases.

3. Tokyo Forex Trading Hours

The Tokyo session, running from 12:00 AM GMT to 9:00 AM GMT, is the first major trading session of the week. Although Tokyo experiences lower volatility compared to the London and New York sessions, it plays a crucial role in setting the tone for the market’s direction.

This session is especially relevant for those trading the Japanese Yen (JPY), as well as AUD/USD and NZD/USD pairs. The Asian session Forex time is heavily influenced by economic data from Japan, China, and other Pacific countries.

The Asian market time of opening allows traders to assess how the market reacts to news from these regions, which can influence price movements in the next session.

4. Sydney Forex Trading Hours

The Sydney session, from 10:00 PM GMT to 7:00 AM GMT, is one of the quieter sessions. Although it’s not as active as the other sessions, it sets the stage for the upcoming London session and provides opportunities for currency trading in pairs like AUD/USD and NZD/USD. While Sydney market hours are less volatile, the session may provide ideal conditions for traders who prefer slow-paced markets. The Sydney Forex session serves as a transition into the larger trading volumes of the next session.

Most Popular Forex Currencies:

The most widely traded currencies in the Forex market are the US Dollar (USD), Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), British Pound (GBP), and Swiss Franc (CHF). These currencies are often paired with each other and traded against smaller currencies from emerging markets. The activity during each session is driven by these major currencies, and certain sessions are better for trading specific currency pairs. For instance, during the London session, you may find EUR/USD and GBP/USD pairs more active, while during the Tokyo session, USD/JPY and AUD/USD are commonly traded.

High Volume and Pricing Efficiency:

When two major trading sessions overlap, the Forex market experiences higher trading volumes and better price efficiency. The most notable overlap occurs between the London and New York sessions, which overlap for 3 hours from 1 PM GMT to 4 PM GMT. During this time, you can expect the highest forex currency volatility, increased liquidity, and more significant price movements in the Forex major currency pairs.

Traders often look to trade during these high-volume hours for the best opportunity to execute large trades with minimal slippage.

Which Forex Market Is Open 24 Hours?

The Forex market is open 24 hours, but the level of activity varies depending on the session. While the market itself doesn’t close, different trading sessions see fluctuating levels of volume and liquidity, impacting how easy or difficult it is to enter and exit trades.

The Forex market’s continuous nature is what makes it unique compared to other markets, allowing traders to react to global events and economic news as they happen.

When is the Best Time to Trade Forex?

The best time to trade currency depends on your trading style, strategy, and the currency pairs you want to trade. If you’re looking for higher Forex volatility and more significant price movements, the overlap between the London and New York sessions is ideal. During these times, the market is at its busiest, providing more trading opportunities.

However, if you prefer less FX volatility, you may want to focus on the Tokyo or Sydney sessions. These sessions tend to have lower price movements, which can be beneficial for traders who prefer slower-paced markets.

Best Time for Major Currency Pairs:

• EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/CHF: Best traded during the London-New York overlap (1 PM – 4 PM GMT).
• USD/JPY: Actively traded during both the Tokyo and New York sessions.
• AUD/USD, NZD/USD: Best traded during the Sydney and Tokyo sessions.

How to trade with Forex Market Time Zone:

To optimize your trading strategy, it’s essential to align your trading hours with the most active times for the most volatile currency pairs you’re focusing on. Understanding which session influences each currency pair allows you to plan your trades better. Using tools like a Forex market time zone converter or a Forex market volatility indicator will also help you track when major markets are open, how volatile they are, and how that aligns with your Forex weekend trading strategy.

How to Learn More about Forex Market Hours:

Learning about Forex Market Hours is essential for any trader who is looking to boost profits. While the FX market operates 24/5, not all hours offer the same opportunities.

Mastering the timings of different trading sessions helps you plan your trade around periods of high liquidity and volatility. Besides, trading during peak times, especially when major markets overlap, opens the door to increased market activity and better profit potential.  

Want to know more about Forex trading market hours? Then explore SureShotFX’s free course on Forex Market Hours to crack the trading session and start to trade like a pro.

Conclusion:

Understanding the Forex market hours and Forex session times is essential to productive trading. The market is open 24/5, but knowing the best times to trade Forex can help you navigate the high-volatility currency pairs and target your trades when liquidity is high. Align your trading strategy with these optimal trading windows to maximize your potential profits and reduce risk.

FAQs:

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