Forex Market Hours in Nigeria (WAT)
The forex market opens for the week on Sunday at 10:00 PM WAT and closes on Friday at 10:00 PM WAT while New York is on daylight saving time, one hour later (11:00 PM WAT) from early November to mid-March. Nigeria does not change its clocks: the open and close move with US daylight saving time, the London session with the UK's. The busiest hours fall in the Nigerian afternoon.
Time in WAT: –
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| Session | Time in WAT | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 07:00–16:00 local | – |
| Tokyo | 09:00–18:00 local | – |
| London | 08:00–17:00 local | – |
| New York | 08:00–17:00 local | – |
Forex session times in WAT
West Africa Time is UTC+1 all year. The financial centres that define the sessions change their clocks on different dates, so the session times in WAT move during the year:
| Period | Sydney | Tokyo | London | New York | London–New York overlap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Late March to late October New York and London on summer time | 22:00–07:00 | 01:00–10:00 | 08:00–17:00 | 13:00–22:00 | 13:00–17:00 |
| Early November to mid-March New York and London on standard time | 21:00–06:00 | 01:00–10:00 | 09:00–18:00 | 14:00–23:00 | 14:00–18:00 |
| Mid to late March, late October to early November New York on summer time, London on standard time | 21:00–06:00 | 01:00–10:00 | 09:00–18:00 | 13:00–22:00 | 13:00–18:00 |
All times in WAT, Monday to Friday, using the conventional session hours. On Mondays the Sydney session effectively starts at the weekly open, which can be later than the time shown. Sydney's times move by one hour on its own daylight saving dates (first Sunday of April and of October), so from late March to early April and in October the Sydney column can differ by an hour from the row shown.
Best time to trade forex in Nigeria
For major pairs such as EUR/USD and GBP/USD, trading activity and liquidity are usually highest when London and New York are both open: in the Nigerian afternoon, from about 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM WAT until the London close. Spreads are typically tightest then and price moves are often larger. From late March to late October, WAT is the same as London time, so the London session runs from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Nigerian clocks too.
The daily rollover, when swaps are charged or paid on positions held overnight, happens at 5:00 PM New York time: 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM WAT, depending on the season. Spreads often widen for a short time around it:what is a swap in forex.
Forex rules in Nigeria
In October 2018 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeriasaid online retail forex trading was unregulated and that anyone taking part did so at their own risk. The SEC has since published an undated draft of proposed rules on online forex and CFDsthat would require firms serving Nigerian residents, including offshore firms, to register with it; as of October 2026 these were proposals, not rules in force. The SEC has also named unregistered online trading platforms in public warnings, so check a firm before sending money: forex scams.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the forex market open in Nigeria?
On Sunday at 10:00 PM WAT from mid-March to early November, while New York is on daylight saving time, and at 11:00 PM WAT the rest of the year. That is 5:00 PM on Sunday in New York, when the trading week starts in Sydney and Wellington.
What time does the forex market close in Nigeria?
On Friday at 10:00 PM WAT from mid-March to early November and at 11:00 PM WAT the rest of the year, which is 5:00 PM on Friday in New York.
What is the best time to trade forex in Nigeria?
Liquidity on major pairs is usually highest during the London–New York overlap: about 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM WAT from late March to late October and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM WAT from early November to mid-March. Spreads are typically tightest then; it is not a time that makes trades more likely to win. For two to three weeks in March and in late October the overlap runs from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM WAT.
What is the London session time in Nigeria?
About 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM WAT from late March to late October, and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM WAT from late October to late March.
Is online forex trading regulated in Nigeria?
In 2018 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria said online retail forex trading was unregulated. The SEC has since published an undated draft of proposed rules that would require platforms serving Nigerian residents, including offshore ones, to register with it; as of October 2026 these were proposals, not rules in force.
Learn more
- Forex market hours in your time zone
The same live clock in any time zone.
- Is forex trading legal?
Rules by country and offshore brokers.
- Forex scams
Warning signs and how to check a firm.
- What is a spread in forex?
Why spreads widen at the open and around news.
- What is a swap in forex?
The daily rollover at 5 PM New York time.
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- Forex Market Hours in India (IST)
Live session clock and forex market open and close times in India Standard Time.
- Forex Market Hours in Pakistan (PKT)
Live session clock and forex market open and close times in Pakistan Standard Time.
- Forex Market Hours in South Africa (SAST)
Live session clock and forex market open and close times in South African Standard Time.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and exclude spreads, commissions and swaps unless stated. Always confirm figures with your broker before trading.