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Identifying and Trading During the London Session
As the Asian trading session concludes, the European market commences, triggering a notable surge in forex trading volume. This increase is primarily attributed to London's strategic geographical location and the substantial volume of transactions executed during its operational hours.
Why Is the London Trading Session Important?
London has historically been a pivotal global financial hub, and its advantageous time zone plays a critical role in the international financial markets. The London session is active from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (local London time). This period is characterized by two key overlaps with other major sessions:
- An early overlap with the Asian session.
- A later overlap with the New York session.
These overlaps contribute to increased trading volume and generally result in lower trading costs due to tighter spreads, offering more favorable trading conditions.
Forex Market During the London Session
The London session's influence on the forex market is evident in the substantial price movements and liquidity observed during its active hours.
Key Characteristics of the London Trading Session
Trading during the London session presents several distinct characteristics:
- Highest Liquidity: Approximately 43% of all forex transactions globally occur during the London session, making it the most liquid period.
- High Volatility: The immense trading volume directly leads to significant market movements and price fluctuations.
- Start of Daily Trends: Many major price trends originate during this session and frequently extend into the New York session.
- Mid-Session Slowdown: Around noon London time, a temporary dip in volatility often occurs as European traders take a lunch break.
- End-of-Session Reversals: Towards the close of the session, many European traders liquidate their positions, which can trigger trend reversals.
Average Volatility of Currency Pairs in the London Session
The London session is renowned for its substantial volatility, a direct consequence of intense trading activity. While historical averages may vary based on current market conditions, here's an overview of the average pip movement for major forex pairs during this session:
- GBP/USD: 13 pips
- EUR/USD: 10 pips
- USD/JPY: 19 pips
- USD/CHF: 10 pips
- EUR/JPY: 22 pips
- GBP/JPY: 22 pips
- AUD/JPY: 16 pips
- AUD/USD: 10 pips
- NZD/USD: 9 pips
- USD/CAD: 10 pips
- EUR/GBP: 6 pips
- EUR/CHF: 8 pips
Which Currency Pairs to Trade in the London Session?
Given the exceptionally high trading volume during the London session, almost all currency pairs are tradable. However, certain pairs are particularly well-suited due to their greater liquidity and tighter spreads:
- Major Pairs: EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and USD/CHF are highly recommended due to their significant volume and narrow spreads.
- Cross Pairs: EUR/JPY and GBP/JPY are also popular choices, known for their pronounced volatility during this session.
Conclusion
The London trading session stands out as one of the most volatile and liquid periods in the forex market. With its strategic overlaps with both the Asian and New York sessions, starting at 8:00 AM London time, it provides an opportune environment for implementing volatility-based trading strategies.