CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing all your money. Read our full Risk Warning.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 77% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Forex Day Trading: How Do Timeframes Affect Volatility?

The forex market is one of the most volatile ones. The timeframe you choose to trade in has a big effect on your results, so you need to pick the right one.

Filip Dimkovski - Writer for Fortrade
By Filip Dimkovski
Joel Taylor - Editor for Fortrade
Edited by Joel Taylor

Updated May 8, 2024.

Forex day trading is a popular way to trade in the global currency exchange market, but understanding how time frames affect volatility is essential for forex traders.

» New to forex trading? Get familiar with the essential forex terms


Forex Timeframes for Day Traders

Most day traders focus on shorter timeframes, usually ranging from 15 minutes to 4 hours. This way, the trader can react quicker to changing conditions.

Depending on the liquidity of your chosen market, you may find different time frames useful. For example, if you are trading in a more liquid market, such as the EUR/USD pair, you could use a shorter-term timeframe. It's worth mentioning that the US and London markets overlap from 8 am to noon Eastern Standard Time. This is widely regarded as one of the most active times in the forex market.

Traders should look for high-volume trades during this period, as it gives them a chance to potentially benefit from the increased market activity. However, due to the amount of trading volume during this timeframe, traders should also keep in mind that price movements can be quite rapid and create considerable losses if not managed properly.

» Interested in trading XAU/USD? Read our expert tips on XAU/USD pair

Key Takeaway

All in all, forex day trading could be a good way to trade in the foreign exchange market, but it requires an understanding of how time frames affect volatility. By Increasing activity during key times, traders could increase their chances of potential success.

» Learn more about rollover rates with Fortrade