does forex trade on weekends
Verdict
- No. The global currency market runs five days a week, so Pepperstone, our recommended broker in Australia, quotes its currency pairs on weekdays only; it does offer crypto CFDs that trade 24/7.
- Seen from Australia, the forex week opens on Monday morning with the Asia-Pacific session and closes after New York's Friday session, which is Saturday morning here; the exact hour shifts with daylight saving.
- Pepperstone also lists perpetual CFDs that trade 24/7, but its Australian pages do not say whether retail clients can trade them, so ask before you plan around them.
- Positions held over the weekend can reopen at a very different price, and Pepperstone offers no guaranteed stop to protect against that gap.
Banks, dealers and central banks set currency prices, and they do not trade at weekends. So the spot forex market goes quiet from the close of business in New York on Friday until Monday's open in the Asia-Pacific. Here is what that means for an Australian trader, and what Pepperstone keeps open.
Weekend trading at Pepperstone: crypto yes, currency pairs no
Pepperstone's 24/7 products are crypto CFDs and perpetual CFDs; currency pairs follow the weekday market. Its Australian accounts page counts 31 crypto CFDs, and ASIC limits retail leverage on BTC/USD and ETH/USD to 1:2, so weekend crypto trading is a low-leverage affair. Published Razor averages are 15.15 for BTC/USD and 2.01 for ETH/USD, with no commission on crypto CFDs. Pepperstone also offers more than 100 US share CFDs that trade 24 hours a day, five days a week, which extends weekday hours but not into the weekend.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What you can trade, and when
| Product | Trading days | Note for Australian clients |
|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs (margin FX) | Monday to Friday | Follows the interbank week |
| Crypto CFDs | 7 days | Retail leverage 1:2 on BTC/USD and ETH/USD |
| Perpetual CFDs | 7 days | Retail eligibility not stated; ask Pepperstone |
| 24-hour US share CFDs | 24 hours, 5 days | Selected stocks with the '-24' suffix |
Why the weekend still matters to forex traders
News does not stop on Saturday. An election result, a policy announcement or a geopolitical event can land while the market is shut, and on Monday morning the first price reflects all of it at once. That is a weekend gap: your position reopens at a new level, and any stop between Friday's close and Monday's open is filled at the first available price, not at the level you set. Pepperstone's Australian PDS contains no guaranteed stop-loss. If you cannot afford a gap, close or reduce positions before Friday's close, or use a broker that sells guaranteed stops; Capital.com (AFSL 513393) is one.
Monday morning in Australia
- Liquidity is thin in the first hours of the week, so spreads on the majors can be wider than Pepperstone's published averages.
- AUD and NZD pairs are the first to see real two-way trade, as Wellington and Sydney open ahead of Tokyo.
- Pepperstone's accounts page lists support for 18 hours at weekends, so you can still reach someone about your account.
Sources
When does the forex market open in Australia?
On Monday morning Australian time, when the Asia-Pacific session starts. The precise hour moves with daylight saving in Australia and the US.
Can I trade Bitcoin at Pepperstone on a Saturday?
Yes. Crypto CFDs trade 24/7, and Australian retail clients can use up to 1:2 leverage on BTC/USD and ETH/USD.
Why did my forex trade open on Monday at a different price from Friday's close?
That is a weekend gap. The market priced in news released while it was closed, and orders were filled at the first available price.
Crypto and FX CFDs are leveraged, volatile products, and weekend gaps can cause losses beyond your stop level. This page is general information, not investment advice.