Market News & Events
Stay ahead of the markets with our real-time economic calendar. Track high-impact news events that affect your prop firm challenge and funded account rules.
Economic Calendar
Track upcoming market events
Live Market News
Real-time market updates
Prop Firm News Trading Rules Explained
News trading is one of the most misunderstood aspects of prop firm challenges. While volatility can create massive profits, it can also lead to instant account breaches due to slippage or specific rule violations.
Restricted vs. Unrestricted: Some firms strictly ban opening trades 2 minutes before and after high-impact news (Red Folder events). Others, typically Futures firms, are more lenient but warn about slippage risks.
High Impact Risks
During NFP or CPI, spreads can widen by 10x-50x. A stop loss might not trigger at your price, causing a larger loss than intended (This is called Slippage).
Straddle Strategies
Placing buy/sell stops above and below price before news is often banned. This is seen as "gambling" by many firms and can lead to account termination.
Key Economic Events to Watch
These events historically cause the most volatility for USD pairs, Gold (XAUUSD), and Indices (US30, NAS100).
Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP)
The most important jobs report in the US. Detailed account of the US employment situation.
CPI (Inflation Data)
Measures inflation. High deviation from forecast forces the Fed to adjust rates, moving markets heavily.
FOMC Meetings
Federal Reserve interest rate decisions and press conferences. Can reverse trends instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trade news events with a prop firm?
It depends on the firm. Some firms like Apex Trader Funding or Tradeify often allow trading during news events (specifically in paid/funded accounts), while others restrict opening new positions 2 minutes before and after high-impact 'Red Folder' events. Always check the specific 'News Trading' rule in your firm's FAQ.
What are 'Red Folder' events?
Red Folder events refer to high-impact economic releases on the economic calendar. These include NFP (Non-Farm Payrolls), CPI (Inflation data), and FOMC meetings, which often cause massive volatility and slippage in the markets.
Why do prop firms ban news trading?
Firms ban news trading to manage risk. During high volatility, liquidity can dry up, causing slippage that might breach drawdown limits instantly. It also protects the firm's capital from gambling-like behavior that relies solely on lucky volatility spikes.
Which prop firms allow news trading?
Firms like Tradeify usually allow news trading in their Express Funded Accounts. Apex Trader Funding generally allows it as well. However, many forex-centric firms like FTMO or FundedNext may have restrictions on specific account types (e.g., waiting 2 minutes before/after news).
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