Key Takeaways
- London now opens around 1:30 pm IST and New York around 6:30 pm IST, one hour later than in summer.
- The London–New York overlap runs roughly 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm IST.
- US data at 8:30 am ET now lands at 7:00 pm IST; Fed statements at 2:00 pm ET land at 12:30 am IST.
- NSE currency derivatives still trade 9:00 am to 5:00 pm IST; MCX non-agri now closes at 11:55 pm.
Every November, Indian traders lose a few trades to one simple problem: the clock. India does not change its clocks, but the UK and the US do, and that shifts the whole global session map. The forex market hours in IST winter schedule began on 1 November 2026, when US clocks went back, a week after the UK did the same on 25 October. This guide gives the new IST timings for each session, where US data and Fed decisions now fall, and how NSE currency derivatives and the MCX evening session fit around them.
What are forex market hours in IST winter 2026?
From 1 November 2026, the Sydney session runs roughly 2:30 am to 11:30 am IST, Tokyo 5:30 am to 2:30 pm, London 1:30 pm to 10:30 pm, and New York 6:30 pm to 3:30 am IST. London and New York are each one hour later than in summer, and their overlap now runs 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm IST.
Spot forex is an over-the-counter (OTC) market, meaning banks and dealers trade directly rather than on one exchange. A “session” is simply when a financial centre’s banks are at their desks, roughly 8:00 am to 5:00 pm local time, so treat each time as approximate.
Summer vs winter session timings in IST
The table converts common GMT session windows into the forex market hours in IST winter traders now need. IST stays UTC+5:30 all year.
| Session | Local hours (approx.) | Summer IST | Winter IST (from 1 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | 3:30 am–12:30 pm | 2:30 am–11:30 am |
| Tokyo | 9:00 am–6:00 pm | 5:30 am–2:30 pm | 5:30 am–2:30 pm |
| London | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | 12:30 pm–9:30 pm | 1:30 pm–10:30 pm |
| New York | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | 5:30 pm–2:30 am | 6:30 pm–3:30 am |
| London–NY overlap | n/a | 5:30 pm–9:30 pm | 6:30 pm–10:30 pm |
Tokyo does not move because Japan has no daylight saving. Sydney moves earlier because its summer starts as the northern one ends.
Why did forex timings change after daylight saving?
Forex timings after daylight saving changed because London and New York set their clocks back by one hour, while India kept IST unchanged. A London desk still opens at 8:00 am local time, but 8:00 am GMT is 1:30 pm IST, whereas 8:00 am British Summer Time was 12:30 pm IST.
Daylight saving time (DST) is the practice of moving clocks forward one hour in spring and back in autumn. The 2026 dates were:
- Sydney: clocks went forward on Sunday 4 October 2026 (AEST to AEDT), and the season runs until 4 April 2027.
- UK and EU: clocks went back on Sunday 25 October 2026, from BST to GMT.
- US: clocks went back on Sunday 1 November 2026, at 2:00 am local time, from EDT to EST. The winter schedule holds until clocks go forward in March 2027.
London open IST November: what it means for the afternoon
The London open in IST in November is now about 1:30 pm. For traders who check charts at lunch, that helps: Asia is winding down and the first push of European liquidity arrives just after. Our Asia–London session overlap guide explains why pairs such as EUR/USD often pick a direction in this window.
What time does New York open in IST now?
The New York open in IST is now about 6:30 pm, one hour later than the 5:30 pm summer timing. For salaried professionals, the most liquid part of the day now starts after office hours.
The four hours when London and New York are both open, 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm IST, usually carry the deepest liquidity. Liquidity is how easily a currency can be traded without moving its price; deeper liquidity usually means tighter spreads. After London closes around 10:30 pm IST, activity tends to thin out.
When do US data releases and Fed decisions land in IST?
Major US releases from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI), are scheduled for 8:30 am Eastern Time. In winter, that is 7:00 pm IST, compared with 6:00 pm IST in summer.
Key US event timings, summer vs winter
| US event | US release time | Summer IST | Winter IST |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLS data such as CPI | 8:30 am ET | 6:00 pm | 7:00 pm |
| FOMC policy statement | 2:00 pm ET | 11:30 pm | 12:30 am (next day) |
The BLS schedule lists CPI for 10 November and 10 December 2026 at 8:30 am, so 7:00 pm IST.
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is the Federal Reserve body that sets US interest rates. Its October 2026 statement came at 2:00 pm EDT, or 11:30 pm IST. The next meeting is on 8–9 December 2026; a statement at the same local time would arrive at 12:30 am IST on 10 December. Our economic calendar shows event times in IST, and the November 2026 forex calendar for Indian traders lists the month’s key releases.
How do NSE currency derivatives and MCX fit the winter schedule?
NSE currency derivatives do not change with daylight saving. According to NSE contract specifications, INR pair futures and options (USDINR, EURINR, GBPINR, JPYINR) trade Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm IST. MCX is different: it adjusts its evening close to US DST.
NSE currency derivatives timings
Indian residents may trade currency derivatives only on recognised Indian exchanges such as NSE, BSE and MSE, in permitted pairs. NSE’s cross-currency contracts in EURUSD, GBPUSD and USDJPY also end at 5:00 pm IST, under a circular dated 14 April 2020. See the NSE contract specifications for INR currency derivatives for current details.
This creates a gap: the London–New York overlap starts after NSE currency trading has closed. Traders often use the evening to watch the dollar and prepare USD/INR levels for the 9:00 am open. Our guide to NSE currency trading timings covers pre-open details.
Leveraged forex on overseas online platforms through the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) is not permitted, and the RBI keeps an Alert List of unauthorised platforms. Read our explainer on forex rules under FEMA before acting on any evening move.
MCX evening session and US daylight saving
MCX revises its hours twice a year. From Monday 2 November 2026, MCX non-agri commodities such as metals and energy trade 9:00 am to 11:55 pm IST. In the summer period that began on 9 March 2026, the close was 11:30 pm.
Select agri contracts (cotton, cotton oil and kapas) trade until 9:00 pm, other agri until 5:00 pm, and intraday positions are squared off 10 minutes before close. MCX gold and crude oil in rupees are the main legal way for Indians to act during the overlap.
Best time to trade forex in India this winter
The best time to trade forex in India depends on which market you can legally use and when you are free. For NSE currency futures, the morning open and the hours after London’s 1:30 pm IST open are typically busiest. For MCX, the evening overlap is usually liveliest.
How to build your winter trading schedule
- Update your platforms. Confirm your charts show IST and session markers have shifted.
- Mark the fixed Indian windows. NSE currency derivatives: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm IST. MCX non-agri: 9:00 am to 11:55 pm IST.
- Add the global anchors. London open at 1:30 pm, New York open at 6:30 pm, London close at 10:30 pm IST.
- Plot this week’s data. Use the economic calendar to note every 7:00 pm IST US release and any late-night central bank event.
- Measure typical movement. Check how much a pair or contract usually moves in each window before sizing trades.
- Set a hard stop time. Decide when you will close the screen on work nights.
Worked example (hypothetical)
Example (hypothetical): a working professional in Pune has ₹1,00,000 in a trading account and trades NSE USDINR futures. NSE lists one unit as USD 1,000, so a 10 paise move equals ₹100 per lot. She decides to risk no more than 1% of capital per trade, which is ₹1,000.
With a hypothetical stop of 20 paise (₹200 per lot), she could take up to five lots and stay within ₹1,000. Because NSE closes at 5:00 pm, she trades after the 1:30 pm London open. She checks the 7:00 pm IST US data only to plan the next morning, not to chase it on an unregulated platform.
Common mistakes Indian traders make after the DST change
- Using last month’s alarms. A 6:00 pm CPI reminder is now an hour early; reset alerts to 7:00 pm IST.
- Assuming NSE timings changed. They did not. Only MCX shifts its evening close.
- Forgetting the late Fed night. December’s FOMC statement is expected after midnight IST on 10 December. Plan any open MCX positions before it.
- Following offshore “24-hour” platforms. These are not a legal route for Indian residents.
FAQs
Did US daylight saving end on 1 November 2026?
Yes. US daylight saving time ended on Sunday 1 November 2026, when clocks went back from 2:00 am to 1:00 am local time. New York moved from Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4) to Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5). As a result, the New York session and US data releases now arrive one hour later in IST than they did in summer.
What time does the London session open in IST in November?
In November, the London session opens at about 1:30 pm IST. UK clocks went back on 25 October 2026, so 8:00 am in London is now 8:00 am GMT, which equals 1:30 pm IST. During British Summer Time, the same 8:00 am open fell at 12:30 pm IST, which is why it now feels an hour later.
What time does the New York session open in IST in winter?
The New York session now opens at about 6:30 pm IST. This assumes the common convention of an 8:00 am Eastern Time start for New York trading desks. During US summer time it opened at 5:30 pm IST. The London–New York overlap, usually the most liquid part of the day, now runs from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm IST.
What time is US CPI released in IST in winter?
US CPI is scheduled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 8:30 am Eastern Time. In winter, that converts to 7:00 pm IST. The next two releases on the BLS schedule are 10 November and 10 December 2026, both at 8:30 am. In summer, the same release would land at 6:00 pm IST.
Do NSE currency derivatives timings change with daylight saving?
No. NSE currency derivatives follow IST and do not change with daylight saving in other countries. NSE contract specifications list INR pair futures and options from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm IST, Monday to Friday. MCX is different, because it revises its evening close for US daylight saving, now 11:55 pm for non-agri commodities.
Can Indians trade the London–New York overlap legally?
Indian residents cannot legally trade leveraged spot forex on overseas online platforms, and NSE currency derivatives close at 5:00 pm IST, before the overlap begins. During the overlap, traders often use MCX contracts such as gold and crude oil, which trade until 11:55 pm IST in winter, and use forex price action for analysis.
Conclusion
Knowing the forex market hours in IST winter schedule saves you from small but costly timing errors. London now opens around 1:30 pm IST, New York around 6:30 pm, and the busy overlap runs until roughly 10:30 pm. US data at 8:30 am ET lands at 7:00 pm IST, and December’s Fed statement is due after midnight. NSE currency derivatives keep their 9:00 am to 5:00 pm hours, while MCX non-agri trading runs until 11:55 pm. Before your next session, use the session volatility calculator to see how much each window typically moves, and plan your evenings around it.
