[StevenSJC]

I have spent a lot of time researching when are the very best times of day to trade various markets. Forex or futures - it always amazes me how different the results can be, literally at times hour by hour.

I've seen trade results double, or fall into the red just by moving from one hour to the next.

I'm curious if any of you experience the same?

Of course most of us who trade actively no some basics like ignoring lunch hours, or low volume, but I think it goes deeper than that.

For example, in my forex trading I used to start earlier for the U.S. session, as early as 7am EST (New York) but have realized after analyzing reams of results, good and bad, that I do much better starting more like 9:30am EST -- and I can actually trade less time and make more - quite a concept

I'd say 9:30am - 11:30am EST might be the sweet spot for me. Now, that could vary by market but mostly thinking markets like GBPUSD, EURUSD and possibly USDJPY. I do not day trade pairs with wide spreads like a GBPJPY.

European hours I'm less sure -- 1am - 5am EST is the general range but I think the same can be said here -- why waste all that time if we can work on focusing on the best 60 -90 minutes.

I learned similar when I trade Crude Oil Futures - I used to way overtrade.

Curious if any of you have had similar experiences our outcomes?

[bathrobe]

I trade es futures mainly, I usually trade the first hour to 90 mins and then look at other markets and assess whether or not to continue with es.

[Tams]

best time is when there is good volatility...



credit: MAK

[WorldTrader]

I like to trade the Futures, so I start at the US Open. I have found that the ES moves best in the overnight session and per US session. It needs a news push or event to really get going during the US session. Otherwise, it ranges and it has been tight up until last week. So, is there really a best time to trade the ES? It really seems to vary. For a while then last 45 mins of the US session gave some good moves. Does anyone like to trade it overnight or outside the US session?

[patrader]

For forex or currency futures like 6E or 6B i have found the Toyko open ok but London and U.S. better.Usually after london closes(11:30 am est) i stop trading the currencies.For the ES usually the first couple of rth hours of trading and last hour are best.Sometimes when the range expands than the middle of the rth day can be good.When there are important reports before rth open at 8:30 am est than a good trade may setup soon after the release.Trading the
ES any other time in globex usually has more slippage.If trading CL than i stick to the pit hours.Check out this website for world market hours: World Financial Markets -- Current Open/Closed Status, Opening and Closing Times, and Holiday Schedule, Expressed in Terms of Your Local Time Zone

[patrader]

Originally Posted by Tams »

best time is when there is good volatility...



credit: MAK

Tams under the pace column on the left should the upper and lower be reversed?

[snowbird]

Originally Posted by Tams »

best time is when there is good volatility...



credit: MAK

Interesting chart. What do the numbers within the chart represent?

snowbird

[robertm]

Originally Posted by StevenSJC »

I have spent a lot of time researching when are the very best times of day to trade various markets. Forex or futures - it always amazes me how different the results can be, literally at times hour by hour.

I've seen trade results double, or fall into the red just by moving from one hour to the next.

I'm curious if any of you experience the same?

Of course most of us who trade actively no some basics like ignoring lunch hours, or low volume, but I think it goes deeper than that.

For example, in my forex trading I used to start earlier for the U.S. session, as early as 7am EST (New York) but have realized after analyzing reams of results, good and bad, that I do much better starting more like 9:30am EST -- and I can actually trade less time and make more - quite a concept

I'd say 9:30am - 11:30am EST might be the sweet spot for me. Now, that could vary by market but mostly thinking markets like GBPUSD, EURUSD and possibly USDJPY. I do not day trade pairs with wide spreads like a GBPJPY.

European hours I'm less sure -- 1am - 5am EST is the general range but I think the same can be said here -- why waste all that time if we can work on focusing on the best 60 -90 minutes.

I learned similar when I trade Crude Oil Futures - I used to way overtrade.

Curious if any of you have had similar experiences our outcomes?

Study when others make money using a similar strategy (ie, trend, scalp, whatever) to yourself on a similar timeframe that you wish to trade. You can find this by sitting in on rooms, or viewing results that are published, or looking at when you get the most spam in your inbox as all the scam systems/robots usually make money at the same time (hint hint).

By study I mean over several years and market conditions, not a few hours of research.