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Best Forex Pairs to Trade During New York Session 2025
from Exness Broker
The New York session is one of the most dynamic periods in the Forex market. As the final major trading session of the day, it contributes nearly 17–19% of the daily Forex volume, with explosive moves driven by U.S. economic news, Wall Street momentum, and the overlap with London.
Whether you're a scalper, day trader, or news trader, knowing the best Forex pairs to trade during the New York session in 2025 is key to maximizing profit potential and minimizing unnecessary risk.
This guide reveals the top-performing currency pairs that thrive during this high-volatility window.
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New York Forex Session Overview
Open Time: 12:00 PM GMT
Close Time: 9:00 PM GMT
Overlap with London: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM GMT (most volatile period of the trading day)
During this session, key market drivers include:
U.S. economic reports (CPI, NFP, Fed statements)
Canadian data (when relevant)
Risk sentiment shifts from equity markets
Reactions to European data releases (early New York)
This makes USD pairs — especially those with strong fundamentals — ideal for trading.
Top 6 Best Forex Pairs to Trade During the New York Session in 2025
Let’s explore the top currency pairs that consistently offer high liquidity, tight spreads, and strong market moves during the U.S. session.
1. EUR/USD (Euro/US Dollar)
Why it dominates during New York hours:
Most traded currency pair worldwide
Extremely tight spreads (under 1 pip on most brokers)
Reacts strongly to both European and U.S. economic data
Highly liquid throughout the day
Best for: Scalping, trend-following, and breakout strategies
EUR/USD remains just as powerful during New York hours as it is in London, especially when the Fed or ECB is active.
2. USD/CAD (US Dollar/Canadian Dollar)
Why it's a top New York session pair:
Canadian economic data is often released during this time
Correlates strongly with crude oil prices (Canada is a major oil exporter)
High volatility, especially on oil inventory reports and NFP days
Best for: News trading, macroeconomic trend plays, and reversal setups
USD/CAD is great for traders who understand both U.S. and Canadian markets and want to trade based on data releases.
3. GBP/USD (British Pound/US Dollar)
Why it's still active post-London:
Remains volatile in early New York hours
Reacts to late European data or U.S. news
Offers intraday continuation setups or reversals from the London session
Best for: Momentum scalping and intraday swing trades
GBP/USD tends to peak in volatility during the London–New York overlap, offering solid trades before calming down post-4 PM GMT.
4. USD/JPY (US Dollar/Japanese Yen)
Why it's a strong New York session performer:
Moves in response to U.S. bond yields and equity market sentiment
Reacts to risk-on/risk-off behavior
Clean, trending patterns during key U.S. data drops
Best for: Trend trading and range-breakout setups
While USD/JPY is also active during Asian hours, the U.S. open provides a second wind, especially when Fed sentiment or inflation data is in focus.
5. USD/CHF (US Dollar/Swiss Franc)
Why it's ideal during New York hours:
Reacts to U.S. economic sentiment with less volatility than GBP or JPY
Often moves in inverse correlation to EUR/USD
Safe-haven appeal during global uncertainty
Best for: Measured risk trades, safe-haven correlation plays
For traders looking to avoid the extreme volatility of GBP or JPY pairs, USD/CHF offers a calmer alternative.
6. EUR/JPY (Euro/Japanese Yen)
Why it performs in the New York session:
Euro still moves on post-London data
Yen reacts to risk sentiment from U.S. equities
High volume and reliable technical levels
Best for: Reversals, breakouts, and news-aligned trades
EUR/JPY blends the trend behavior of EUR/USD with the global risk sensitivity of USD/JPY — a versatile and powerful pair.
Best Times to Trade in the New York Session
12 PM – 2 PM GMT: Market reacts to U.S. data releases
2 PM – 4 PM GMT: London–New York overlap = most volatile
4 PM – 6 PM GMT: Trend continuation or reversal setups form
6 PM – 9 PM GMT: Lower volume, fewer opportunities, risk of false moves
For most traders, the sweet spot is between 12 PM and 4 PM GMT, when both volume and price action are optimal.
Best Trading Strategies for New York Session Pairs
Here are the most effective strategies for high-impact New York session pairs:
News Breakout Strategy
Focuses on major U.S. data (NFP, CPI, interest rates)
Entry on breakout of pre-news range
Works best on EUR/USD, USD/CAD
London Close Reversal
Fade strong London trends as volume slows
Best used on GBP/USD and EUR/USD after 4 PM GMT
Trend Continuation on USD Pairs
Enter on pullbacks in established NY-session trends
Best for USD/JPY and USD/CAD
Correlation Strategy with Crude Oil or Equities
Use WTI chart to confirm USD/CAD trades
Monitor S&P 500 or Dow for USD/JPY direction
New York Session Trading Tips for 2025
Always check the U.S. economic calendar before trading
Avoid trading 1 minute before/after news spikes — let volatility settle
Use low-spread brokers with fast execution
Focus on one or two USD pairs for deep familiarity
Practice risk management — volatility is high and can be unpredictable
FAQs About New York Session Forex Trading
What is the most volatile pair in the New York session?USD/CAD and GBP/USD are among the most volatile, especially during overlapping hours and key news events.
Can I trade exotic pairs in the New York session?It’s possible, but spreads are wider, and liquidity is lower. Stick to major pairs for consistency.
Is the New York session better for scalping or swing trading?Both. Scalping is ideal during news hours. Swing trades can be planned using the early NY momentum.
What pairs move the most with U.S. inflation data?EUR/USD, USD/JPY, and USD/CAD are highly sensitive to CPI and PPI reports.
What’s the safest USD pair to trade in this session?USD/CHF offers relatively calm movement and clean technical setups.
Final Thoughts: Master the New York Session With the Right Pairs
The New York Forex session in 2025 remains one of the most powerful time windows to trade — especially for those who thrive on high-impact news, fast execution, and bold market movements.
Focus on the right pairs — EUR/USD, USD/CAD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and USD/CHF — to maximize your effectiveness. Match them with proven strategies and smart risk control, and the NY session can be your most profitable trading period.
