If I'm trading short term it's between NZST 7pm and 3am. US traders kick in around 12am-2am (depending on daylight saving time). The first hour of the US session is best - especially for futures. I used to only trade after 8pm NZST but I'm old and fat now so trade mid to longer-term. Not to mention I'm involved in other ventures so only trade part-time.
I once met a guy that did all his trading within the first 15-20mins of US open then finishes for the day.. wouldn't tell me anything about how he trades, though IMO a tape strategy would be the only way to trade for such a short time. I did try and pick it out of him for the whole 13hr flight but he wasn't having a bar of it.
