Exchange hours in IST, and how they line up with Asia, London and New York
This is the India version of the lesson. Indian residents may trade currencies only through exchange-traded currency derivatives on NSE, BSE or MSE, with a SEBI-registered broker. Education only, no tips.
The global market never sleeps — the exchange does
The global OTC currency market passes from Sydney to Tokyo to London to New York, five days a week. An exchange has fixed hours. For a resident, the hours that matter are the exchange’s, because that is the only place they may trade.
Exchange hours in IST
On NSE the currency derivatives segment trades on weekdays except exchange holidays (as of 3 November 2026):
INR pairs9:00 am to 5:00 pm IST
Cross pairs9:00 am to 7:30 pm IST
Overlap with the world
The Indian morning overlaps with the Tokyo and Singapore session. Around 12:30–1:30 pm IST (depending on daylight-saving time in Europe) London opens, and liquidity in the global market rises. New York opens around 5:30–6:30 pm IST — after the INR pairs have closed, so US data released in the Indian evening shows up in the next morning’s open.
Early afternoon ISTLondon opens
Evening ISTNew York opens, INR pairs closed
Gaps at the open
Because the global market keeps moving while the INR contracts are closed, the next day’s first trade can be far from yesterday’s close — a GAP. Stops do not protect against gaps: an order that triggers at the open fills at the first available price. Position size is what limits the damage.
You’ve mastered: exchange hours
INR pairs trade 9:00 am to 5:00 pm IST; cross pairs until 7:30 pm
London opens in the Indian early afternoon; New York after the INR close
News outside exchange hours shows up as a gap at the next open
Stops do not protect against gaps; position size does
