The London session breakout, step by step

A classic intraday setup that trades the first decisive move out of the quiet Asian session.

The idea

During the Asian session, major European pairs often drift in a tight range. When London opens, volume arrives and price frequently breaks out of that range with momentum. The strategy aims to catch that first move.

Step by step

• Mark the high and low of the Asian session (roughly 00:00–07:00 GMT).
• Skip the day if the range is unusually wide — the move may already have happened.
• After the London open, wait for a 15-minute candle to close outside the range.
• Enter on the close, or on a retest of the range edge.
• Place the stop inside the range, around its midpoint or the opposite edge.
• Target 1.5–2 times your risk, and close any open trade before New York lunchtime.

Filters that help

• Avoid days with major news during the London morning.
• Trade in the direction of the higher-timeframe trend where possible.
• Limit yourself to one attempt per day — a failed breakout often means a messy session.