Trading hours
Tokyo shares trade 00:00 to 06:30 UK in UK winter with a lunch break; Nikkei futures and most JPN225 CFDs typically trade from 23:00 UK Sunday to 22:00 UK Friday with a daily break.
| When | UK time | New York time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly open (CFD) | Sunday 23:00 | Sunday 18:00 ET | Many brokers run JPN225 on the same clock as US index futures. Times follow your broker's server clock. |
| Tokyo morning session | 00:00 to 02:30 (winter), 01:00 to 03:30 (summer) | 19:00 to 21:30 ET | 09:00 to 11:30 Tokyo time. |
| Tokyo lunch break | 02:30 to 03:30 (winter) | 21:30 to 22:30 ET | 11:30 to 12:30 Tokyo time. Futures keep trading. |
| Tokyo afternoon session | 03:30 to 06:30 (winter), 04:30 to 07:30 (summer) | 22:30 to 01:30 ET | 12:30 to 15:30 Tokyo time, with a closing auction from 15:25. The close moved from 15:00 to 15:30 in November 2024. |
| Osaka futures sessions | Day 23:45 to 06:45; night 08:00 to 21:00 (winter) | 18:45 to 01:45 ET; 03:00 to 16:00 ET | 08:45 to 15:45 and 17:00 to 06:00 Tokyo time. |
| Daily CFD break | 22:00 to 23:00 | 17:00 to 18:00 ET | Typically one hour; some brokers differ. |
| Busiest hours | 00:00 to 02:30 (winter), and 13:30 to 15:30 | 19:00 to 21:30 ET and 08:30 to 10:30 ET | Typically the Tokyo open, then US data and the US open. |
Japan does not use daylight saving time, so its exchange times never change. The UK does, so the UK times shift: from the last Sunday of October to the last Sunday of March (UK winter, now) the UK times on this page apply; in UK summer every UK time is one hour later. New York changes its clocks on different dates from the UK (in 2026 the UK changed on 25 October and the US on 1 November; in 2027 the US changes on 14 March and the UK on 28 March). In those gap weeks New York is 4 hours behind London instead of 5, so every UK time on this page that is set by New York comes an hour earlier. Broker server clocks usually follow New York, so times on your platform can look different in those weeks even though the market has not moved.
What is Nikkei 225 (JPN225)?
The Nikkei 225 is calculated by Nikkei Inc. from 225 large companies on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Unlike most indices it is price weighted: a share with a high price moves the index more than a cheap one, whatever the size of the company. A handful of high priced shares therefore have a big say in its daily moves.
Nikkei 225 futures trade at Osaka Exchange (part of Japan Exchange Group) in a day session and a long night session, and on CME in US dollars and yen. JPN225 CFDs follow these futures, so they keep moving through the European and US sessions.
The trading sessions
The home session. The open often brings the day's first big move; the lunch break is quieter.
Futures follow global risk mood and the yen; moves are usually smaller.
US data and US indices often drive JPN225, especially big tech and chip shares.
Thin trade before the daily break.
Contract facts
One point is a move of 1 in the index level (for example from 40,000 to 40,001). The index is quoted in yen.
Lot sizes differ between brokers. Many CFDs are priced in yen per point (often 100 yen per point per lot) and some brokers offer a US dollar version. Check the contract specification in your platform.
On a CFD where 1 lot is worth 100 yen per point, a 100 point move on 1 lot is worth 10,000 yen. On one Osaka Nikkei 225 mini futures contract a 1 point move is worth 100 yen.
Osaka Exchange Nikkei 225 futures: large contract 1,000 yen per point, mini 100 yen per point, micro 10 yen per point. Trading 08:45 to 15:45 and 17:00 to 06:00 Tokyo time. CME also lists Nikkei futures in dollars and yen.
How far it usually moves
Varies with conditions; check the Average daily range indicator on WickSpeak for the current figure. We do not publish a fixed number because we could not verify one from an official source.
What moves Nikkei 225 (JPN225)
A weaker yen tends to help Japanese exporters and the Nikkei; a sharp yen rally often weighs on it.
Rate decisions and bond buying plans move the yen and Japanese shares.
Because the index is price weighted, a few expensive shares such as chip and retail names can move it a lot.
Big moves in US chip and tech shares often carry into Tokyo the next morning.
US yields move the dollar against the yen, which feeds back into the Nikkei.
The quarterly Tankan survey, inflation and wage figures shape the Bank of Japan's next move.
Scheduled events to watch
Eight meetings a year; any change in rates or bond buying moves the yen and the Nikkei.
A quarterly read on Japanese business conditions, released at 08:50 Tokyo time.
An early monthly read on Japanese inflation, released at 08:30 Tokyo time.
Hotter or cooler inflation changes what traders expect from US interest rates, which moves every risk market.
Eight scheduled meetings a year; the decision and the tone of the press conference reset US rate expectations.
The biggest monthly US data release, often the busiest few minutes of the month.
What it tends to move with
Often moves in the same direction: a weaker yen (higher USDJPY) tends to lift the Nikkei.
Tokyo chip and tech names often follow the previous US session.
Asian indices tend to move together on big risk days, though the link is loose.
Tips for trading Nikkei 225 (JPN225)
Trade the Tokyo open
Mark the first 15 minute candle after the Tokyo open. A close beyond its high or low is a breakout idea; a close back inside proves it wrong.
Watch USDJPY
A long JPN225 idea is stronger when USDJPY is rising too. If USDJPY breaks sharply lower, the idea is in doubt; a close below your entry candle's low proves it wrong.
Mind the lunch break
Futures trade through the Tokyo lunch break but shares do not, so moves can fade at 03:30 UK. A lunch break move that reverses after the afternoon open is proved wrong.
Use points for stops
The Nikkei can move many points in a session. Place stops beyond structure in points and size down; a 15 minute close beyond the swing proves the trade wrong.
Respect BoJ days
There is no fixed release time, so keep size small through the Tokyo midday on decision days. A breakout that reverses within two 5 minute candles is proved wrong.
Connect a cTrader account once and JPN225 appears on WickSpeak at your broker's own prices. Session separators show the Tokyo, London and New York sessions, and key levels mark the previous day high and low, pivots and average daily range levels with their distance in points. Every indicator writes a plain-English reading on the live candle, including what would prove it wrong, and a Playbook play can alert you, draw a trade plan, paper trade or, only on a play where you switched live trading on, place a trade inside the guardrails you set.
Related markets
Sources: jpx.co.jp, jpx.co.jp, jpx.co.jp, indexes.nikkei.co.jp, pepperstone.com, boj.or.jp. Checked 2026-11-05. Broker hours follow your broker's server clock and can differ.
Questions traders ask
What time does the Nikkei 225 open in the UK?
Tokyo shares open at 09:00 Tokyo time, which is 00:00 UK in UK winter and 01:00 UK in UK summer. JPN225 CFDs trade almost round the clock, typically from 23:00 UK on Sunday.
Does the Nikkei have a lunch break?
Yes. Tokyo shares pause from 11:30 to 12:30 Tokyo time (02:30 to 03:30 UK in winter). Nikkei futures and most JPN225 CFDs keep trading through it.
What time does the Tokyo Stock Exchange close?
Since November 2024 the Tokyo afternoon session ends at 15:30 Tokyo time, with a closing auction from 15:25. That is 06:30 UK in winter and 07:30 UK in summer.
Why does JPN225 move when Japan is closed?
JPN225 CFDs follow Nikkei futures, which trade in Osaka's night session and on CME. They react to US markets, the yen and global news while Tokyo shares are shut.
What is the best time to trade JPN225?
Typically the Tokyo open (00:00 to 02:30 UK in winter) and the US data and US open window from 13:30 to 15:30 UK.