Forex Market Hours in South Africa (SAST)
The forex market opens for the week on Sunday at 11:00 PM SAST and closes on Friday at 11:00 PM SAST while New York is on daylight saving time, one hour later (midnight SAST) from early November to mid-March. South Africa 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 South African afternoon.
Time in SAST: –
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| Session | Time in SAST | 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 SAST
South African Standard Time is UTC+2 all year. The financial centres that define the sessions change their clocks on different dates, so the session times in SAST 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 | 23:00–08:00 | 02:00–11:00 | 09:00–18:00 | 14:00–23:00 | 14:00–18:00 |
| Early November to mid-March New York and London on standard time | 22:00–07:00 | 02:00–11:00 | 10:00–19:00 | 15:00–00:00 | 15:00–19:00 |
| Mid to late March, late October to early November New York on summer time, London on standard time | 22:00–07:00 | 02:00–11:00 | 10:00–19:00 | 14:00–23:00 | 14:00–19:00 |
All times in SAST, 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 South Africa
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 South African afternoon, from about 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM SAST until the London close. Spreads are typically tightest then and price moves are often larger.
The daily rollover, when swaps are charged or paid on positions held overnight, happens at 5:00 PM New York time: 11:00 PM or midnight SAST, depending on the season. Spreads often widen for a short time around it:what is a swap in forex.
Forex rules in South Africa
As of October 2026, firms providing forex and CFD services to clients in South Africa generally need authorisation from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) as a financial services provider under FAIS, and firms issuing CFDs as principal also need authorisation as an over-the-counter derivative provider under the Financial Markets Act; in 2023 the FSCA fined a FAIS-licensed firm for offering CFDs without that authorisation. Some offshore brokers accept South African clients without an FSCA licence, and those accounts may fall outside local complaint and protection channels. The FSCA regularly warns the public against unauthorised forex operators. Check a firm with the FSCA's FSP search or on 0800 110 443 before opening an account: forex scams.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the forex market open in South Africa?
On Sunday at 11:00 PM SAST from mid-March to early November, while New York is on daylight saving time, and at midnight (Monday 00:00 SAST) the rest of the year. That is 5:00 PM on Sunday in New York.
What time does the forex market close in South Africa?
On Friday at 11:00 PM SAST from mid-March to early November and at midnight (Saturday 00:00 SAST) the rest of the year, which is 5:00 PM on Friday in New York.
What is the best time to trade forex in South Africa?
Liquidity on major pairs is usually highest during the London–New York overlap: about 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM SAST from late March to late October and 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM SAST 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 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM SAST.
What is the London session time in South Africa?
About 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM SAST from late March to late October, and 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM SAST from late October to late March.
Is the forex market open on Saturday in South Africa?
Only in the first minutes of Saturday from early November to mid-March, when the weekly close falls at midnight SAST. The rest of the year the market closes on Friday at 11:00 PM SAST and reopens on Sunday at 11:00 PM SAST.
Do forex brokers need a licence in South Africa?
Generally, yes. Under South African law, firms providing forex and CFD services to clients in South Africa need FSCA authorisation as a financial services provider under FAIS, and firms issuing CFDs as principal also need authorisation as an over-the-counter derivative provider; the FSCA fined a firm in 2023 for issuing CFDs without it. Some offshore brokers accept South African clients without an FSCA licence, and those accounts may fall outside local protections (October 2026).
Learn more
- Forex market hours in your time zone
The same live clock in any time zone.
- Forex regulation
How regulators license forex and CFD providers.
- 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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Results are estimates for educational purposes and exclude spreads, commissions and swaps unless stated. Always confirm figures with your broker before trading.