Trading from Kazakhstan: what is different
In March 2024 Kazakhstan moved to a single time zone, UTC+5, for the whole country. Older guides that give Almaty session times on UTC+6 are now an hour out — the table below uses the current clock.
Oil is Kazakhstan's largest export, and its main export blend is priced against Brent. The tenge has floated since 2015 and tends to weaken when oil falls, so Brent is the market most Kazakh traders watch first.
Kazakhstan is also a major uranium and metals producer; precious metals including gold, silver and platinum are on the platform.
Forex market hours in Kazakhstan
The forex market is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, passing from Asia to Europe to North America. These are the main sessions converted to local time in Kazakhstan.
| Session | Local time, Nov–Mar | Local time, Apr–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo session | 05:00–14:00 | 05:00–14:00 |
| London session | 13:00–22:00 | 12:00–21:00 |
| New York session | 18:00–03:00 | 17:00–02:00 |
| London–New York overlap | 18:00–22:00 | 17:00–21:00 |
| Weekly open | Monday 03:00 | Monday 02:00 |
| Weekly close | Saturday 03:00 | Saturday 02:00 |
The busiest hours for the major pairs and gold are usually the London–New York overlap. Spreads tend to be widest around the daily rollover and in the first hour after the weekly open.
Markets to watch from Kazakhstan
- Brent crude oil — the benchmark for Kazakhstan's export blend.
- XAU/USD and XPT/USD — gold and platinum.
- EUR/USD and GBP/USD — from 13:00 in winter.
- USD/CNH — China is one of Kazakhstan's largest trading partners.
Accounts and funding
| Account | Minimum deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $100 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Pro | $1,000 | From 0.6 pips | None |
| Raw ECN | $5,000 | From 0.0 pips | $7 per lot |
Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) or Tron (TRC20). There is no Kazakhstani tenge conversion inside your account; any conversion happens wherever you buy or sell USDT. Identity verification is completed once, before your first withdrawal.
Regulation and your responsibility
AlphaFX Pro is an international broker and is not licensed by the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (ARDFM), or the AFSA in the Astana International Financial Centre. Our registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress. We do not provide investment advice or a local office in Kazakhstan.
Before opening an account, make sure the law in Kazakhstan allows you to trade CFDs with a broker based outside the country, and check any rules on moving money abroad. If you are not sure, ask us before you deposit.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Kazakhstan in for trading?
Since March 2024 the whole country is on UTC+5. The forex week opens on Monday at 03:00 Kazakhstan time in winter and 02:00 in summer.
Why do oil prices matter for the tenge?
Oil is Kazakhstan's main export. When Brent falls, export earnings drop and the tenge has historically weakened.
What is the minimum deposit from Kazakhstan?
The Standard account opens from $100, funded in USDT. Pro starts at $1,000 and Raw ECN at $5,000.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is general information, not investment advice. Read the Risk Disclosure.