Spread Comparison: New York Session Forex Costs (2026)
Updated Apr 2026 • 10 min read • NY session data
The New York session (13:00-21:00 GMT) is the second most liquid trading window in forex and the primary session for USD-denominated instruments. While it overlaps with London for the first three hours, creating exceptional liquidity, the post-London period (16:00-21:00 GMT) has its own distinct spread characteristics that traders need to understand. This analysis provides precise spread data for the New York session to help traders optimize their US-hours trading.
New York Session Spread Data (Q1 2026)
| Pair | NY Overlap (13:00-16:00) | NY Afternoon (16:00-20:00) | Late NY (20:00-21:00) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.0-0.1 pips | 0.2-0.4 pips | 0.3-0.6 pips |
| GBP/USD | 0.1-0.3 pips | 0.3-0.6 pips | 0.5-1.0 pips |
| USD/JPY | 0.0-0.2 pips | 0.1-0.3 pips | 0.2-0.5 pips |
| USD/CAD | 0.3-0.5 pips | 0.3-0.6 pips | 0.5-0.9 pips |
| XAU/USD | 5-8 cents | 8-12 cents | 10-18 cents |
| US Oil (WTI) | 2-3 cents | 3-4 cents | 5-8 cents |
Best Instruments for New York Session
The New York session is optimal for USD pairs, commodities, and US stock index CFDs. USD/CAD in particular reaches its tightest spreads during New York hours because both US and Canadian banks are active simultaneously. Crude oil and gold CFDs also benefit from NYMEX and COMEX activity during US hours.
European pairs like EUR/GBP and EUR/CHF should be traded during the overlap period only (13:00-16:00 GMT). After London closes, spreads on these pairs widen significantly and volume drops, making them unsuitable for short-term strategies.
Trade US Session
Exness offers tight spreads across all sessions with instant execution.
US Economic Data Impact
The New York session hosts the majority of high-impact US economic releases, typically at 12:30 or 13:30 GMT. NFP (first Friday monthly), CPI, retail sales, and GDP data all cause temporary spread widening followed by significant directional moves.
FOMC rate decisions at 18:00 GMT occur during the post-London period when baseline spreads are already slightly wider. The combination of wider baseline spreads and news-driven widening means FOMC announcements create the most expensive trading conditions for EUR/USD at any point in the month.
New York vs London: Which Is Better?
For European pairs, the London session is definitively better for spreads. For USD pairs and commodities, the overlap period is optimal, with pure New York afternoon hours being comparable to London core hours for USD-centric instruments. Commodity traders should prioritize the New York session for tightest oil and gold spreads.
Methodology
New York session spreads measured from 13:00-21:00 GMT on raw accounts. Broken into three sub-sessions for granular analysis. Q1 2026 data using automated tick sampling.
Related Comparisons
Explore more spread data across different pairs and brokers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the New York session offer best spreads?
The early New York session (13:00-16:00 GMT) during London overlap offers the tightest spreads. After London closes at 16:00, spreads gradually widen for European pairs but remain competitive for USD pairs.
Is the New York session good for EUR/USD?
Excellent during the London overlap. EUR/USD spreads are at 0.0-0.2 pips on raw accounts. After 16:00 GMT, spreads widen to 0.2-0.5 pips as European liquidity diminishes but remain tradeable.
Which pairs are best to trade during NY session?
USD-denominated pairs perform best during New York hours. USD/CAD, USD/JPY, and EUR/USD all have competitive spreads. Commodity pairs like XAU/USD also benefit from US market activity.