Quick answer: Forex liquidity and volatility change by session. Most EAs are designed for specific hours, often London or New York, when spreads are tighter. Set the EA's session hours in your broker's MT5 server time, which is the clock shown in Market Watch, not your local time.
Key takeaways
- Liquidity peaks when London and New York overlap.
- Spreads widen around the daily rollover and in thin hours.
- MT5 session inputs use broker server time.
- Restricting hours reduces exposure to unwanted conditions.
- Daylight saving changes can shift session times.
The four main forex sessions
- Sydney: the week opens here; often quieter.
- Tokyo: active for JPY pairs.
- London: the largest share of volume; many pairs move most here.
- New York: strong activity, especially during the London overlap.
Why session hours matter for a trading bot
An EA built for trending London moves can struggle in the quiet late-evening hours when price drifts sideways and spreads widen. Session hours keep a forex bot inside the conditions it was designed for.
Broker server time explained
MT5 inputs usually use your broker's server time, shown in Market Watch. Many brokers use GMT+2 or GMT+3 so that the daily candle closes at New York 5 PM. Always convert your intended hours into server time.
Hours to be careful with
- Daily rollover: spreads often widen for a short period.
- Major data releases: fast moves and slippage.
- Friday close and Monday open: weekend gaps.
How to set session hours in an EA
- Check the recommended window in the EA's documentation.
- Look up your broker's server time offset.
- Enter start and end times in the Inputs tab.
- Confirm in the Experts log that trades happen inside the window.
Session hours are one of the four core risk controls in Remix Ai.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to run a forex EA?
The hours it was designed and tested for. Many strategies target London or the London–New York overlap.
Why does my EA not trade at night?
Its session hours probably exclude those times, which is often intentional.
What time zone does MT5 use?
MT5 shows the broker's server time. Check Market Watch for the current server clock.
Do I need to change session hours for daylight saving?
Sometimes. Server time and exchange hours can shift at different dates, so recheck when clocks change.
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Risk disclosure: this article is for education only and is not financial advice. Trading with automated software carries a high risk of loss, and past or simulated results do not predict future results. Remix Ai sells software. We do not manage accounts, offer copy trading or sell trading signals.