Forex Trading Sessions in Turkey

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The best time to trade Forex in Turkey is between the overlap of New York and London, which is between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. EST (3:00 and 6:00 p.m. in Istanbul).

With daily participation of individuals from different nations, the Foreign Exchange Market (Forex), which never shuts down during the workweek, has the largest volume of global trade. And the Forex market is open for trading from 22:00 GMT on Sundays until 22:00 GMT on Fridays.

However, every potential trader in Turkey needs to be aware that there are times when it is most profitable to trade currency pairs. So traders starting Forex trading should learn the different Forex trading sessions, Turkey Forex market hours, and what time the Forex market opens in Turkey.

The main trading sessions include Sydney (Pacific Region), Tokyo (Asian Region), Europe (London), and America (New York):

Sidney (Pacific Region) - The market is active between 22.00 and 7.00 GMT

Tokyo (Asian Region) - The market is active between 23.00 and 9.00 GMT

London (European session) - The market is active between 8.00 and 17.00 GMT

New York (American session) - The market opens at 13:00 and closes at 22.00 GMT

So which of the above Forex trading sessions is the best time to trade Forex in Turkey? Read on to learn about the different time zones in Turkey and how they fit into the best Forex time sessions.

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What is the Best Time to Trade Forex in Turkey?

The best times to trade Forex are when trading sessions overlap because these times typically offer the highest level of liquidity. Even though the Forex market operates in four different time zones globally, the U.S. and London markets overlap, have the most trading activity, and offer the most profitable trading opportunities. European currencies are most active during this time and offer the most liquidity for currency pairs involving the Euro, Pound Sterling, and Swiss Franc. This is because the major Forex trading sessions in New York and London overlap. And it turns out that this is between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, or 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. in Istanbul.

Best time to Trade Forex - TU Research

As previously stated, the best time to trade Forex in Turkey is between the overlap of New York and London, which is between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. EST (3:00 and 6:00 p.m. in Istanbul). But there are days of the week when these trades are best executed.

Day of the week Votes

Monday

339

Tuesday

285

Wednesday

730

Thursday

400

Friday

326

Total

2080

London and New York have the busiest time zones. So for every trader who wants to maximize the profits from their transactions in Turkey, the best day to trade is from Wednesday to Friday.

Best Time for Forex Day Trading in Turkey

The Turkish foreign exchange market trades from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (local time) Monday through Friday. Expert traders in Turkey claim that the entire 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. ET period is frequently among the best times for day trading. But the period between the U.S. and London markets (8 a.m. to noon EST) offers the best trading opportunities.

Best Forex Pairs to Trade in Turkey Trading Sessions

Sydney/Tokyo, Tokyo/London, and London/New York overlap is the best time when traders can buy or sell currency pairs, especially those pairing the U.S. dollar in Turkey. The currency pairs to trade include:

Time to Pause Forex Trading in Turkey

Low liquidity periods are the best times to steer clear of trading on the Forex market. While this does not necessarily mean a skilled trader cannot profit from the market, it might not be ideal for new traders. And this can be:

In the early hours of Monday and late on Sunday

During public holidays, significant news events, and periods of unusual price movement

Also, during the Asian sessions identified as low liquidity periods

Additionally, traders should pause a trade if they are preoccupied and unable to monitor the trade. Additionally, traders should resist the urge to open positions when they are having health complications, traveling, or attending conferences.

Time Zones in Turkey

The official time zone in Turkey is UTC+03:00, and it is followed nationwide. Compared to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), it is 3 hours behind. Another name for this time frame is TRT, or "Turkey Time".

In the past, according to the Coordinated Universal Time (GMT/UTC) system, Turkish time lagged behind Eastern European time by two hours. And during Daylight Savings Time, it is three hours ahead of GMT. But this changed after September 2016.

Turkish time is now three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time after the Turkish government decided to keep the country on Daylight Saving Time throughout the year.

Turkey does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so the country keeps its clocks set to Turkey Time. The time corresponds to Moscow Time and Arabian Standard Time.

Turkey is eight hours ahead of New York when New York is on standard time and seven hours when it is not. For example, if the time in Turkey is 11:07:50, below is the time in various Forex trading sessions:

Tokyo - 17:07

London - 09:07

New York - 04:07

How the time for Forex trading depends on the time zone in Turkey

Because of the differences in the time zone in Turkey and the Forex trading sessions, traders in Turkey may have to adjust to trading when it might be inconvenient. So this means that the time for Forex trading in Turkey can be affected by the local time zone, usually UTC+3, which is three hours ahead of time in GMT. This means the Sydney/Tokyo session will begin at around 2:00 AM local time (UTC+3) and end at 11:00 AM local time (UTC+3). Also, the New York Session will now commence at around 4:00 PM local time (UTC+3) and conclude at 1:00 AM local time (UTC+3).

Forex traders should consider the overlap during trading sessions. This is because, during the overlap, the market gets busy as multiple traders from different regions are opening and closing positions. Since trading volumes have significantly increased, more liquidity decreases spreads on currency pairs and lowers slippage.

Based on the timing of the overlap, traders should always integrate these times with Turkey's local time zones. For example, a trader planning to trade during the London and New York overlap should consider the local time of the trading session in Turkey. The London and New York overlap happens between 13.00 GMT and 17.00 GMT in Turkey. And as of June 15, 2023, this falls between 16:00 and 20:00 in Turkish time (EEST).

Best Forex Brokers in Turkey

If you are a potential trader seeking to know the best time to trade Forex in Turkey, then do not forget traders need the best Forex brokers to trade successfully. And below are some of those brokers you need to sign up with for a smooth trading session in Turkey.

RoboForex

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The first on the list is RoboForex, which turns out to be the best Forex broker for beginners and professional traders in Turkey. While RoboForex complies with all the requirements of the local regulator, it has an international license to provide currency trading services. RoboForex has licenses from FSC Belize and a European license from CySEC (license No. is 191/13 Robomarkets Ltd.).

Also, it offers attractive trading conditions for Turkish clients with a narrow spread of 0 pips due to direct access to liquidity providers in ECN systems. Again, traders seeking the best time to trade Forex in Turkey can benefit from the educational resources available on the platform. This material helps traders improve their skills and knowledge, including a wide range of analytics.

In a nutshell, RoboForex is a well-known broker with a wide range of products, account types, and no commission fees for withdrawals and account replenishments. Additionally, there are no trading restrictions or time limits on open trades.

Tickmill

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Your capital is at risk.

Tickmill is the next broker every potential Forex trader must consider if they want to enjoy trading in any of the Forex trading sessions. In terms of security and reliability, Tickmill complies with all the requirements of the local regulator and is regulated by:

The Seychelles Financial Services Authority

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)

The Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA)

And the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa

Tickmill provides clients with favorable trading conditions thanks to its low spreads, which enable clients to trade automatically using EAs and copy trading. This broker offers Turkish traders good liquidity, three types of accounts, and a variety of CFD trading instruments: Forex, stocks, cryptocurrencies, commodities, indices, and bonds.

And with lots of educational materials to allow novice traders to familiarize themselves with the peculiarities of trading with different instruments quickly.

Exness

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Your capital is at risk.
You can lose your money.

Excess is another popular Forex broker that every Turkish trader should choose for Forex trading. When seeking the best time to trade forex in Turkey, brokers like Exness are what you need to profit from the Forex trading sessions. This is because the broker complies with all the requirements of the local regulator and holds a leading position in the ratings of Forex brokers in EU countries.

Exness prioritizes the adoption of cutting-edge technologies while still providing clients with favorable trading conditions. Regardless of the type of account opened, every Turkish trader has access to a set of trading tools. Traders can transact in currency pairs, cryptocurrencies, metals, stocks, and energy. They provide traders with low spreads and a social trading platform that allows for immediate money withdrawals while allowing everyone to trade according to their strategies.

FAQs

What time is the Forex session in Turkey?

The Turkish currency market opens on Sunday at midnight local time, which coincides with Sydney's sunrise, and trades until Friday night when the New York exchange closes.

Can I trade Forex in Turkey?

The answer is yes, given that Turkey's Capital Markets Board is legally able to regulate forex trading there. If you use a swap-free account, you can also trade Forex per Islamic law.

What is the best period to trade Forex?

The best time to trade Forex in Turkey is between the overlap of New York and London, which is between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. EST (3:00 and 6:00 p.m. in Istanbul).

What are the hardest months to trade Forex?

June, July, and August seem to experience low volatility due to the summer season, making it the worst time to trade Forex.

Team that worked on the article

Peter Emmanuel Chijioke
Contributor

Peter Emmanuel Chijioke is a professional personal finance, Forex, crypto, blockchain, NFT, and Web3 writer and a contributor to the Traders Union website. As a computer science graduate with a robust background in programming, machine learning, and blockchain technology, he possesses a comprehensive understanding of software, technologies, cryptocurrency, and Forex trading.

Having skills in blockchain technology and over 7 years of experience in crafting technical articles on trading, software, and personal finance, he brings a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical expertise to the table. His skill set encompasses a diverse range of personal finance technologies and industries, making him a valuable asset to any team or project focused on innovative solutions, personal finance, and investing technologies.

Dr. BJ Johnson
Dr. BJ Johnson
Developmental English Editor

Dr. BJ Johnson is a PhD in English Language and an editor with over 15 years of experience. He earned his degree in English Language in the U.S and the UK. In 2020, Dr. Johnson joined the Traders Union team. Since then, he has created over 100 exclusive articles and edited over 300 articles of other authors.

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Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO).