Introduction
When it comes to trading money on the forex market, knowing when to trade is super important. Even though you can trade any time of the day, not every moment is a good chance to make money. This is where something called ICT Kill Zones helps out a lot. They are like the golden hours for trading, when you’re more likely to find good deals.
Imagine ICT Kill Zones as the best parts of the day for trading. They line up with the times when big places like Asia, London, and New York are buzzing with forex activity. During these special hours, you’re in a better spot to see and grab opportunities to earn some profit.
In this blog, we’re going to talk about these special times and why they’re so important for making money in forex. We’ll look at the different times for Asia, London, and New York, and show how each one can give traders a great chance to make smart trades and earn more.
1. The ICT Asian Kill Zone
The first special time for trading we’re talking about is called the ICT Asian Kill Zone. This is when the action starts and it’s a really good time for trading currencies like the Australian dollar, New Zealand dollar, and the Japanese yen. Why? Because this is when these countries are most awake and doing lots of buying and selling.
So, what’s so cool about the Asian Kill Zone? Well, during this time, lots of important news comes out that can make prices move more than usual. If you keep an eye on this news and see how it affects the market, you could find some really good chances to make a trade.
Key Things About the Asian Kill Zone:
- When Is It? This kill zone happens between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM Eastern Time. It’s like the market’s opening act.
- What to Look For: Look for chances to make quick trades that could earn you a small profit, usually around 15 to 20 pips. Pips are just forex speak for small changes in price.
- Best Currencies: The best currencies to trade during this time are the NZD and JPY pairs because they’re more active.
- Tips: The US dollar doesn’t move much now, so focus on the other currencies. Finding a strong currency paired with a weak one during this time can be a really good opportunity to make a trade.
2. The ICT London Kill Zone
Next up, we’ve got the ICT London Kill Zone. This is when London’s forex market is super busy, making it a prime time for trading, especially if you like trading the Euro (EUR) or the British pound (GBP). Since London is a major trading hub, there’s a lot of action, which means more chances for you to make some good trades.
Why the London Kill Zone Rocks:
- Timing: This special time is from 2:00 AM to 5:00 AM Eastern Time. It’s when London’s market is just waking up and getting busy.
- Opportunities: The cool thing about the London Kill Zone is it often sets up the day’s lowest prices in a rising market or the highest prices in a falling market. This pattern can help you decide when to jump in and make a trade.
- What You Could Win: Trading during this time could let you grab gains between 25 to 50 pips, which is a pretty good deal.
Key Points:
- Look out for the busiest times between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM New York time to make the most of the London session.
- The London Kill Zone is known for having the highest amount of orders being made compared to other times, making it a hot spot for forex trading.
So, if you’re up early or stay up late, the London Kill Zone could be your chance to make some exciting trades with the possibility of bigger wins.
3. The New York Kill Zone
After London gets things going, it’s time for the New York Kill Zone. This is a really important time for traders because it’s when the US forex market is most alive. It’s especially good if you’re trading with the dollar (like in USD/EUR or USD/GBP pairs). Since New York is a big deal in the trading world, lots of buying and selling happen here, giving you many chances to make money.
Why You Should Pay Attention to the New York Kill Zone:
- When It Happens: The action starts from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM Eastern Time. This is when New York’s market is busiest.
- Big Moves: Just like in other kill zones, this time often shows patterns that can lead to profitable trades. You might see chances to earn from 20 to 30 pips on a good trade.
- Best Part: One of the best things about trading during this time is the overlap with the London session. This overlap means even more trading action, making it a golden time for traders.
What’s Special About It?
- The New York Kill Zone is great for trading major pairs that include the US dollar because of the high volume of trades.
- This period also benefits from the extra activity brought by the overlap with the London market, making it an excellent time for finding good trading opportunities.
In short, if you’re looking to make some of your best trades, the New York Kill Zone is a time you don’t want to miss. It’s when the big players are out, and the market is full of opportunities.
4. The London Close Kill Zone
Finally, we have the London Close Kill Zone. This is like the last call for making trades before the day winds down in the forex market. It’s a special time when traders try to grab their last chances for some good deals, especially as the London market is about to close for the day.
Why the London Close Kill Zone is Important:
- Timing: This period is around 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM Eastern Time, adjusted for daylight savings. It’s a brief window, but it can be pretty exciting.
- Opportunities: During this time, you might find patterns in the market that offer a chance to make a quick profit of about 10 to 20 pips. It’s like catching the market’s final waves before it calms down.
- What to Watch: Keep an eye on the clock from 10:00 AM to Noon New York time. This is when you can spot some of the best opportunities to trade during the London Close.
Special Tips:
- This is your last shot at making some trades that could pay off for the day, so it’s worth watching closely.
- Since it’s the end of the London session, it can be a great time to catch some movements that extend into the New York afternoon, offering a final burst of trading action.
The London Close Kill Zone is all about making the most of the last moments of high activity in the market. It’s for traders looking to end their day with a few smart moves that could lead to profit.
ICT Kill Zones Times
We’ve talked about different times when the forex market is buzzing with activity. These are the best times to trade because there are more chances to make money. To make it easier, here’s when these times happen in both Eastern time (like in New York) and GMT (the time standard for the world).
| Kill Zone | Eastern Time (ET) | Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Asian Kill Zone | 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | 12:00 AM (Midnight) – 2:00 AM |
| London Kill Zone | 2:00 AM – 5:00 AM | 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
| New York Kill Zone | 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
| London Close Kill Zone | ~8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM |
This table shows the times for the different ICT Kill Zones in both Eastern Time (like New York’s time) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is a world time standard.
Adjusting for Daylight Saving Time (DST)
DST is when people move their clocks forward by one hour in spring and back again in fall. This means there’s more daylight in the evening hours in summer.
How DST Affects Trading Times:
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): When DST starts in the spring, places on Eastern Time (ET) shift their clocks forward by one hour. This means Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) becomes Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4).
- Calculating UTC During DST: UTC, or Coordinated Universal Time, doesn’t change. So when you’re on EDT (UTC-4), you just add 4 hours to your local time to convert it to UTC. For example, if it’s 11:30 AM in New York during DST, you add 4 hours, making it 3:30 PM UTC.
Adjustments for Trading:
- During DST, the trading times in ET shift one hour earlier. This means if a trading session was supposed to start at 9:00 AM ET before DST, it now starts at 8:00 AM ET during DST.
- It’s important to adjust your trading schedule according to these time changes to catch the ICT Kill Zones at the right time.
Time Difference Between New York and London
Standard Time Difference:
- For most of the year, New York is 5 hours behind London. This means if it’s noon (12:00 PM) in London, it’s 7:00 AM in New York.
Spring Transition to Daylight Saving Time (DST):
- New York moves to DST before London does. This happens on the second Sunday in March.
- From the start of DST in New York until London also switches to DST (usually the last Sunday in March), New York is only 4 hours behind London.
- So, if it’s noon in London, it’s 8:00 AM in New York during this transition.
Autumn Transition from DST:
- The reverse happens in autumn. London moves back to standard time before New York.
- This short period means New York is again only 4 hours behind London until New York also returns to standard time on the first Sunday in November.
- During this transition, if it’s noon in London, it’s still 8:00 AM in New York.
Why It Matters:
Keeping track of this time difference is important because it affects the opening and closing times of the forex market in these two major financial centers. For example, when you’re trading during the London session’s opening, you need to know what time it is in New York, especially if you’re looking to trade currency pairs that are influenced by the U.S. market.
Final words
Wrapping up, understanding the ICT Kill Zones and the time differences between major trading hubs like New York and London is like having a secret map in the world of forex trading. It guides you to the moments when the treasure chest is most likely to be found. Whether you’re a morning bird catching the Asian Kill Zone or a night owl trading in the New York Kill Zone, knowing these golden hours can turn the tide in your favor.
So, set your clocks, mark your calendars, and get ready to dive into the forex market with confidence. With this knowledge, you’re not just trading on time; you’re trading with time. Let the rhythms of the global market guide your trading strategy, and you might just find yourself sailing towards profitable shores.
In short, happy trading! May your trades be plentiful and your timing impeccable.
