The first weeks after the UK clocks change in March
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2026 10:45 am
When the UK switches to summer time, the London open moves relative to other markets for a few weeks, because the US switches earlier.
What changes in those weeks:
Trading implications: a London morning plan that ends at 13:00 may suddenly include US data. Adjust the plan for the weeks of mismatch.
The same happens in autumn in reverse: the US switches back a week after Europe.
A practical habit is to write the two switch dates and the mismatch weeks into the trading plan at the start of each year, with the adjusted London times for every regular release.
Did a clock change ever catch you out?
What changes in those weeks:
- US releases scheduled for 08:30 New York time land an hour earlier on London clocks than usual.
- The New York open overlaps with London an hour earlier.
- Asian markets don't change clocks, so the gap to Tokyo changes.
Trading implications: a London morning plan that ends at 13:00 may suddenly include US data. Adjust the plan for the weeks of mismatch.
The same happens in autumn in reverse: the US switches back a week after Europe.
A practical habit is to write the two switch dates and the mismatch weeks into the trading plan at the start of each year, with the adjusted London times for every regular release.
Did a clock change ever catch you out?