Web Trader MT5 
The forex market generally opens in Canada on Sunday around 5:00 PM Eastern Time and closes on Friday around 5:00 PM Eastern Time. During the week, it trades continuously as activity passes through the major global sessions.
Actually, the forex market does not open the way a shop opens with lights on, doors unlocked, one clear starting point. It moves more like a wave across the globe. Sydney sets it in motion. Tokyo picks it up. London carries it forward. New York brings it into the North American day.
However, broker hours may vary slightly. Some platforms open a few minutes after 5:00 PM ET on Sunday, or close just before 5:00 PM on Friday. This is why around 5:00 PM Eastern Time is more accurate than any single universal minute. Let us dive more into the details.
What Forex Trading Sessions and Their Times for Canadian Traders?
As mentioned before, the four major forex trading sessions are Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York.
Different currency pairs tend to become more active depending on which financial centres are open at a given moment. For Canadian traders, the New York session usually feels the most familiar because it fits into the North American workday. But London matters too, especially because it overlaps with New York for part of the morning.
Here is a simplified reference table for Canadian traders:
| Forex Session | Opens ET | Closes ET | Opens PT | Closes PT |
| Sydney | Sunday 5:00 PM | Monday 2:00 AM | Sunday 2:00 PM | Sunday 11:00 PM |
| Tokyo | Sunday 7:00 PM | Monday 4:00 AM | Sunday 4:00 PM | Monday 1:00 AM |
| London | Monday 3:00 AM | Monday 12:00 PM | Monday 12:00 AM | Monday 9:00 AM |
| New York | Monday 8:00 AM | Monday 5:00 PM | Monday 5:00 AM | Monday 2:00 PM |
These times are simplified beginner references. Exact times may shift because of daylight saving time, broker settings, and seasonal changes.
A trader in Toronto may see the London session open around 3:00 AM ET. That is technically tradable, though not everyone wants to meet the market before sunrise with one eye half open.
The New York session at 8:00 AM ET is a far more civil hour for most Canadian traders. A trader in Vancouver, however, sees New York begin around 5:00 AM Pacific Time. The market is awake.
What Are Forex Market Hours by Canadian Time Zone?
Canada has more than one clock to think about, which is where some of the confusion begins.
When someone says “forex opens at 5:00 PM,” the immediate follow-up should be: 5:00 PM where? The standard reference for forex is New York time, or Eastern Time.
| Canadian Time Zone | Weekly Open | Weekly Close |
| Eastern Time | Sunday around 5:00 PM | Friday around 5:00 PM |
| Central Time | Sunday around 4:00 PM | Friday around 4:00 PM |
| Mountain Time | Sunday around 3:00 PM | Friday around 3:00 PM |
| Pacific Time | Sunday around 2:00 PM | Friday around 2:00 PM |
Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal: Sunday 5:00 PM. Winnipeg: Sunday 4:00 PM. Calgary, Edmonton: Sunday 3:00 PM. Vancouver: Sunday 2:00 PM.
What Is the Toronto Forex Session?
The phrase “Toronto forex session” is a little slippery, and it is worth being honest about that.
There is no official major global session called the Toronto session in the way traders speak of Sydney, Tokyo, London, or New York. When people use that phrase, they usually mean the North American session, which in practice refers to New York market hours.
The reason is simple: Toronto and New York share the same general time zone, and North American forex activity is typically discussed in terms of New York timing.
So when someone says “Toronto session,” they are usually pointing to the part of the trading day when North America is active, roughly 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
When Is the Most Active Time for Canadian Traders?
The most active window for many Canadian forex traders is the London-New York overlap, roughly 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Time.
This is when London is still open and New York has just started. Two major financial centres are active simultaneously, which tends to mean more liquidity and more price movement.
However, it is worth mentioning that more active does not automatically mean better for everyone. A busier market can create opportunity, but it can also create noise. In this context, noise means the extra price movement, fast reactions, mixed signals, and sudden short-term moves that can happen when many traders are active at the same time. For a beginner, this can make the market feel exciting, but it can also make it harder to separate a meaningful move from ordinary market fluctuation.
For that reason, understanding the London-New York overlap is useful because it helps explain why certain hours often feel more energetic than others. It gives traders context, but it should not be treated as a trading signal on its own.
Market hours tell you when the market is open and when activity may increase. They do not tell you what to trade, when to enter, where to exit, or how much money to risk. Those decisions still need a plan because active hours can move quickly, and without clear rules, a trader may react emotionally to every price change instead of making structured decisions.
Is the Forex Market Ever Closed for Canadian Traders?
Yes, forex is not open all the time.
It is generally active 24 hours a day, five days a week, from Sunday evening to Friday evening. It is usually closed over the weekend.
There may also be brief broker maintenance pauses, particularly around the daily rollover period. During these windows, trading may pause or spreads may widen temporarily.
Canadian holidays add another layer of nuance. Forex may technically remain open during a Canadian holiday — because the market is global, not Canadian-only — but if major financial centres are also quiet, the market can behave differently. Thinner liquidity, wider spreads, and slightly stranger price movements.
It is like a shopping mall where only three stores are open and the lighting is half-dimmed. Technically open? Yes. Normal conditions? Not exactly.
Does Daylight Saving Time Affect Forex Hours?
Actually, this is one of those details that sounds minor until the clock changes and a session seems to have quietly moved.
Canada and the United States shift between standard time and daylight time. Other countries may change on different dates, and some do not change at all. That means session times can temporarily shift by an hour during certain weeks of the year.
This is why using Eastern Time or New York time is more accurate than saying EST year-round. EST technically refers to Eastern Standard Time. Canada also observes Eastern Daylight Time during part of the year, which is a different offset.
A practical rule for beginners: use session tables as a general guide, but check your broker’s platform when exact timing matters.
The market is global. The clocks are local. And occasionally, they like to disagree in the background without making an announcement.
FAQs
Generally around 5:00 PM Eastern Time. That is 4:00 PM Central, 3:00 PM Mountain, and 2:00 PM Pacific. Broker hours may vary slightly.
Generally around 5:00 PM Eastern Time, 4:00 PM Central, 3:00 PM Mountain, 2:00 PM Pacific.
During the trading week, yes — from Sunday evening through Friday evening. It is generally closed on weekends.
Around 3:00 AM Eastern Time, closing around 12:00 PM Eastern Time.
Around 8:00 AM Eastern Time. That is 7:00 AM Central, 6:00 AM Mountain, and 5:00 AM Pacific.
Not officially. In everyday trading language, “Toronto session” typically refers to the North American session, which follows New York market hours.
The London-New York overlap — roughly 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Time, when both major centres are open simultaneously.
Yes. Session conversions can shift when countries change clocks on different dates. Check your broker’s platform for exact hours when timing is important.
Yes, during the trading week. Depending on the hour, that may mean trading during the Sydney, Tokyo, or London session.
The market may remain open because it is global, but liquidity may be lower and spreads may widen. Broker hours can also vary.
Final Thoughts
The forex market generally opens in Canada on Sunday around 5:00 PM Eastern Time and closes on Friday around 5:00 PM Eastern Time. But the more lasting takeaway is this: forex does not belong to one clock.
It moves through Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York, handing activity from one financial centre to the next like a relay that never quite stops. For Canadian traders, the New York session is usually the most practical to follow, and the London-New York overlap is often the busiest window of the day.
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial advice, investment advice, or a recommendation to trade any financial product. Forex and CFD trading involve significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Market conditions, liquidity, spreads, and trading hours may vary by broker and region. Always consider your personal circumstances and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment or trading decisions.
Tags
Open Live Account
Please enter a valid country
No results found
No results found
Please enter a valid email
Please enter a valid verification code
1. 8-16 characters + numbers (0-9) 2. blend of letters (A-Z, a-z) 3. special characters (e.g, !a#S%^&)
Please enter the correct format
Please tick the checkbox to proceed
Please tick the checkbox to proceed
Important Notice
STARTRADER does not accept any applications from Australian residents.
To comply with regulatory requirements, clicking the button will redirect you to the STARTRADER website operated by STARTRADER PRIME GLOBAL PTY LTD (ABN 65 156 005 668), an authorized Australian Financial Services Licence holder (AFSL no. 421210) regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
CONTINUEImportant Notice for Residents of the United Arab Emirates
In alignment with local regulatory requirements, individuals residing in the United Arab Emirates are requested to proceed via our dedicated regional platform at startrader.ae, which is operated by STARTRADER Global Financial Consultation & Financial Analysis L.L.C.. This entity is licensed by the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA) under License No. 20200000241, and is authorised to introduce financial services and promote financial products in the UAE.
Please click the "Continue" button below to be redirected.
CONTINUEError! Please try again.
