Daylight Saving Time
Find out what is DST and how does it affect trading hours.
What is Daylight Saving Time (DST)?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is also known as the Summer Time. Generally, regions that observe DST will adjust their clocks forward by one hour at the start of spring, and adjust them backward by one hour in the autumn/fall to Standard Time (also known as Winter Time).
The main purpose is to make better use of daylight as summer season has more daylight hours. DST will affect trading hours and is important for a trader to understand how it works.
How does DST work?
Not all regions practice DST and not all regions that practice DST will observe it on the same day. When DST begins, the clock is advanced an hour forward from 02:00 to 03:00 at the local region time. When it ends, the clock is reversed an hour from 02:00 to 01:00. This means that the timezone of the local region will change along with DST.
For example, during Standard Time, New York is in the GMT-5 timezone. When DST begins in New York, the clock will advance an hour forward and New York will be in the GMT-4 timezone.
Go forward one hour in the spring
Back one hour in the fall
How does DST affect trading hours?
Daylight Saving Time Started
| Location | Standard Time (Before 15 Mar 2026) Timezone |
|---|---|
| United States, New York | Sunday 17:00 GMT-5 |
| Server Time | Sunday 22:00 GMT |
| United Kingdom, London | Sunday 22:00 GMT+0 |
| Cyprus | Monday 00:00 GMT+2 |
| Hong Kong / China / Taiwan / Singapore / Malaysia / Indonesia / Philippines | Monday 06:00 GMT+8 |
| Australia, Sydney NSW | Monday 09:00 GMT+11 |
- Europe and Asia regions clients will observe forex markets to open 1 hour earlier at local time during this period.
- Europe region clients will observe forex markets to open 1 hour later at local time during this period.
ZFinances Trade Server will always refer to the GMT timezone, and is not affected by DST clock changes. That means market open and trading hours will change! There are two DST regions that affect trading hours: United States and Europe regions.