London Session — Complete Guide (BD Time)
The London forex session is the most liquid and volatile session. Opens at 1:00 PM Bangladesh time. Complete guide with ICT kill zones, manipulation patterns, and strategies.
London Session Overview
The London session is the most important trading session in forex. It accounts for approximately 43% of all forex transactions and sets the tone for the trading day. For ICT/SMC traders, this is where the real institutional moves happen.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| 🕐 BD Time | 1:00 PM → 10:00 PM |
| 🌐 GMT/UTC | 7:00 AM → 4:00 PM |
| 📊 Volatility | Very High |
| 💧 Liquidity | Highest globally |
| 🏦 Institutional Activity | Maximum (ECB, BOE, major banks) |
| ⚡ Risk Level | High |
Best Currency Pairs
- EUR/USD — The most traded pair globally; peak volume during London
- GBP/USD — Extremely volatile during London
- EUR/GBP — European cross; cleanest during London
- XAU/USD (Gold) — Major moves during London session
- USD/CHF — European safe-haven pair
- EUR/JPY, GBP/JPY — High volatility crosses
Market Behavior
The London Manipulation Sequence
London doesn't just "trade" — it manipulates the market systematically:
- 1:00 PM BD — Session Open: Institutional algorithms activate
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM BD: Asian liquidity sweep — London takes out Asian session highs OR lows
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM BD: True directional move begins after the sweep
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM BD: Continuation of trend, European data releases
- 6:00 PM BD: New York opens — London + NY overlap begins
- 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM BD: Peak volatility, massive moves
The ICT London Kill Zone in Bangladesh time is 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM BD. This is when smart money engineers liquidity sweeps of the Asian range to establish the daily trend direction.
Why London Dominates
- Geographic advantage: Overlaps with both Asian close and US open
- Institutional headquarters: Major banks in London, Frankfurt, Zurich
- Central bank activity: ECB and BOE decisions during this window
- Volume: More than 43% of global forex volume
Typical Price Action (in BD Time)
| Time (BD) | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1:00 PM | London opens — initial spike / fake move |
| 1:00 - 2:00 PM | Judas Swing — false breakout of Asian range |
| 2:00 - 4:00 PM | Real move begins — trend establishment |
| 4:00 - 6:00 PM | London midday — continuation or pullback |
| 6:00 PM | NY opens — London + NY overlap |
| 6:00 - 10:00 PM | Peak volatility — biggest moves of the day |
| 10:00 PM | London close — profit taking, potential reversal |
London Session Strategies
1. Asian Range Sweep Strategy
- Mark Asian session high and low (5:00 AM - 1:00 PM BD)
- Wait for London to break one side (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM BD)
- Look for rejection / reversal candle after the sweep
- Enter in the opposite direction of the sweep
- Target the other side of the Asian range
2. London Breakout
- Wait for the first 30 minutes (1:00 - 1:30 PM BD)
- Mark the high and low of this opening range
- Enter on the breakout of this range with momentum confirmation
- Stop loss below/above the range
- Target 1:2 or 1:3 R:R
3. Order Block Entry (SMC)
- Identify the last bearish candle before a bullish move (or vice versa)
- Wait for price to return to this order block during London session
- Enter with a tight stop below the OB
- Target the next liquidity level
4. London + NY Overlap Power Trades
- Wait for the 6:00 PM BD convergence
- Look for FVGs (Fair Value Gaps) created during London
- Enter on mitigation of these gaps during NY
- Use the London session high/low as targets
London session volatility can create 100+ pip moves in minutes on GBP/USD and Gold. Always use proper position sizing and stop losses. Never over-leverage during London.
Scalping Suitability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Excellent)
Abundant volatility and tight spreads make London ideal for scalping. Best scalping window: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM BD.
Intraday Suitability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Excellent)
The best session for intraday trading. Clear trends, strong moves, and high probability setups.
Key Takeaway for Bangladesh Traders
London is YOUR session. Running from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM BD, it perfectly aligns with your afternoon and evening hours. This is where you should focus 80% of your trading effort.
Optimal BD trading windows:
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM BD: London Kill Zone (manipulation + trend start)
- 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM BD: London-NY overlap (maximum opportunity)