How long can a forex trade stay open?
The short answer
A spot forex trade has no fixed expiry date. It stays open as long as the trader keeps it open, and the trading day rolls over at 5:00 p.m. New York time, when positions held through that point are carried into the next settlement date.
The daily rollover
According to CME Group, the FX market is often described as a 24-hour marketplace, and in broad terms it is. The boundary where one trading day ends and the next begins is 5:00 p.m. New York time.
According to CME Group's EBS value date calendar, the end of trading every day for standard pairs is 17:00 New York time, at which point the trade date rolls over to the next day. Positions held through 5:00 p.m. New York time are carried into the next settlement date and overnight financing charges are applied, according to CME Group.
Weekends and settlement dates
According to CME Group's EBS value date calendar, Saturdays and Sundays cannot be used as trade dates. Trades executed between 17:00 Friday and 17:00 Saturday New York time take the Friday trade date, and trades executed between 17:00 Saturday and 17:00 Sunday New York time take the following Monday's trade date.
Most standard pairs settle T+2, meaning the value date is two good business days after the trade date, according to the same calendar. USD/CAD is listed there as a T+1 pair. If the calculated value date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or a currency holiday, it is postponed to the next good business day.
The daily break in listed FX futures
According to CME Group, listed FX futures have a 60-minute maintenance break each day from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central time, which is 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. New York time. During that hour listed FX futures do not trade, while most retail FX and CFD platforms continue to quote.
CME Group states that while the book is closed, nothing can trade and no stop can trigger, because there is no price to trigger it. The sources above do not state a maximum length for a spot forex position.
| Event | US Eastern | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| Listed FX futures break begins | 5:00 p.m. | 22:00 (EDT) / 21:00 (EST) |
| Listed FX futures break ends | 6:00 p.m. | 23:00 (EDT) / 22:00 (EST) |
| Trade date rolls over (standard pairs) | 5:00 p.m. | 22:00 (EDT) / 21:00 (EST) |
Questions
Does a forex trade expire at the end of the day?
No. According to CME Group, the trade date rolls over at 5:00 p.m. New York time and positions held through that point are carried into the next settlement date. The position itself stays open until it is closed.
Can a forex trade stay open over the weekend?
Yes. According to CME Group's EBS value date calendar, Saturdays and Sundays cannot be used as trade dates, so trades done between 17:00 Friday and 17:00 Sunday New York time take either the Friday or the following Monday trade date.
When is the forex trading day rollover?
According to CME Group, the end of trading every day for standard pairs is 17:00 New York time, when the trade date rolls over to the next day.
Do forex futures have a fixed end date?
Yes. According to CME Group, FX futures trade in contract months, and for most contracts trading ends on the second business day immediately preceding the third Wednesday of the contract month, with physical delivery on the third Wednesday.
Sources
- CME Group — When FX Futures Pause
- CME Group — EBS Value Date Calendar
- CME Group — FX Futures Deliveries
Checked against these official sources on October 26, 2026 by the Kairotick team. Rules and schedules change; check the source before you rely on a detail.
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