Can You Trade News at Take Profit Trader?

Yes, Take Profit Trader allows news trading during the evaluation phase without any restrictions, but funded PRO and PRO+ accounts must close all positions and cancel all orders one minute before, during, and one minute after specific high-impact news events. The restricted events include FOMC statements, Non-Farm Payroll (NFP), and Consumer Price Index (CPI) releases, with additional instrument-specific restrictions for crude oil inventories and bond auctions. Understanding these rules is essential for traders working toward funding or managing a funded account with Take Profit Trader, as violations result in immediate account termination.

Take Profit Trader News Trading Quick Reference:

• Evaluation Accounts: Allowed without restrictions

• Funded Accounts: Restricted with 1-minute buffer

• Buffer Time: 1 minute before, during, and after restricted events

• Restricted Events: FOMC, NFP, CPI (plus instrument-specific: EIA crude oil inventories, Treasury bond auctions)

• Instruments Affected: All futures contracts during core events, with crude oil and Treasury bonds having additional restrictions

What Is News Trading?

News trading is the practice of opening or closing positions immediately before or after scheduled economic announcements to capitalize on increased market volatility. Futures traders often target these high-impact events because they can create significant price movements in seconds, offering opportunities for quick profits. However, this strategy also carries substantial risk due to extreme volatility, widened spreads, and reduced liquidity during news releases.

High-impact economic news includes major releases that move futures markets dramatically. These events create trading opportunities but also pose significant risks for prop firm traders. Prop firms regulate news trading because these volatile periods increase risk exposure significantly.

Common high-impact news events include:

• Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP): Monthly employment data released first Friday at 8:30 AM Eastern

• Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC): Interest rate decisions announced Wednesdays at 2:00 PM Eastern

• Consumer Price Index (CPI): Inflation measurements that significantly impact all futures instruments

• Energy Information Administration (EIA): Weekly crude oil inventory reports affecting energy futures

Slippage becomes unpredictable during major announcements, liquidity can evaporate instantly, and the potential for account-damaging losses increases dramatically. Most futures prop firms implement buffer zones around major news events to protect both traders and the firm's simulated capital. As of the writing of this article, this approach has become standard practice across the industry.

Take Profit Trader News Trading Policy Overview

Take Profit Trader has a two-tier approach to news trading based on account type. The policy differs significantly between evaluation and funded phases, giving traders flexibility during the challenge while enforcing stricter rules once capital is allocated. News trading at Take Profit Trader is allowed with conditions: no restrictions during evaluation, mandatory buffers once funded.

News trading rules by account type:

• Evaluation accounts: No restrictions on news trading whatsoever, allowing complete freedom during all economic events

• Funded PRO accounts: 1-minute buffer required before, during, and after FOMC, NFP, and CPI events (official PRO policy)

• Funded PRO+ accounts: Identical restrictions as PRO accounts with 1-minute buffer on the same three core events (official PRO+ policy)

During the evaluation phase, traders have complete freedom to trade news without any restrictions or buffer requirements. This allows traders to demonstrate their ability to manage risk during high-volatility periods without limitation. You can hold positions through FOMC announcements, NFP releases, CPI data, and any other economic event without penalty during evaluation.

However, once a trader receives funding, the rules change significantly. Both PRO and PRO+ funded accounts must close all positions and cancel all pending orders one minute before major news events. Traders must remain flat (no open positions) during the news release and for one minute after the announcement. According to Take Profit Trader's official policy, this requirement applies consistently across all funded account sizes.

Importantly, traders are allowed to trade through Federal Reserve speakers and FOMC meeting minutes, which are not considered restricted events. Only the formal FOMC policy statements and announcements trigger the buffer requirement.

Exact News Trading Rules at Take Profit Trader

Buffer Time Requirements

Take Profit Trader requires a one-minute buffer before and after restricted news events for all funded accounts. This timing structure is precise and non-negotiable for PRO and PRO+ traders.

The buffer timeline breaks down as follows:

• One minute before: All positions must be closed and all pending orders must be canceled by 60 seconds before the scheduled release

• During the event: Traders must remain completely flat with zero market exposure and no pending orders

• One minute after: The earliest time traders can re-enter new positions is 60 seconds after the official release time

The platform monitors trade timestamps carefully to ensure compliance. Traders must exit all positions at least 60 seconds before the scheduled release time. For example, if NFP is scheduled for 8:30 AM Eastern, traders must be out of all positions by 8:29 AM and cannot re-enter until 8:31 AM at the earliest.

The one-minute rule applies from the official release time listed on economic calendars, not from when results are published or when the market reacts. Based on the current rules, timing is measured from the scheduled announcement time on standard economic calendars like Forex Factory or Investing.com.

Which News Events Are Restricted?

Take Profit Trader restricts three primary high-impact news events across all funded accounts, plus instrument-specific events for certain futures products. Funded Take Profit Trader traders cannot hold positions during FOMC, NFP, and CPI events, though evaluation traders face no such limits.

Core restricted events for all funded accounts:

• FOMC statements and announcements: Occur Wednesdays at 2:00 PM Eastern time (Federal Reserve speakers and FOMC meeting minutes are explicitly allowed)

• Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) releases: First Friday of each month at 8:30 AM Eastern

• Consumer Price Index (CPI) data: Monthly inflation reports that significantly impact all futures markets

Instrument-specific restricted events:

• EIA crude oil inventory reports: Wednesdays at 10:30 AM Eastern (restricted only for crude oil futures traders)

• Treasury bond auctions: Restricted only for 10-year note (ZN) and 30-year bond (ZB) futures during their respective auctions

These three core events represent the highest-impact scheduled announcements in the futures markets. Take Profit Trader selected these specific releases because they consistently create the most extreme volatility and liquidity disruptions across all futures instruments.

Unscheduled news and surprise announcements do not trigger restrictions. If breaking geopolitical news occurs or an unexpected central bank statement is released, traders are not expected to close positions. The rules apply only to scheduled economic releases that appear on standard economic calendars with predetermined release times.

Affected Instruments

The news trading restrictions at Take Profit Trader apply to all futures instruments offered on funded accounts during the three core events. The policy does not exempt any contracts from the buffer requirement during FOMC, NFP, and CPI releases.

All futures instruments are affected during core events:

• Equity index futures: ES (E-mini S&P 500), NQ (E-mini Nasdaq), YM (E-mini Dow), RTY (E-mini Russell 2000) must observe the buffer

• Commodity futures: GC (gold), CL (crude oil), NG (natural gas) are subject to the buffer requirements

• Micro futures contracts: MES (Micro E-mini S&P 500), MNQ (Micro E-mini Nasdaq) follow identical rules as standard contracts

• Treasury futures: ZN (10-year note), ZB (30-year bond) require buffer during core events plus additional restrictions during bond auctions

Crude oil futures traders face an additional weekly restriction beyond the three core events. The EIA crude oil inventory report, released Wednesdays at 10:30 AM Eastern, triggers the one-minute buffer exclusively for CL (crude oil) traders. Traders in other instruments can trade freely during this report.

Treasury futures traders cannot hold positions during bond auctions specific to their instrument. If you trade ZN (10-year note), you must observe the buffer during 10-year Treasury auctions. If you trade ZB (30-year bond), you must stay flat during 30-year bond auctions. These auctions occur on a published schedule available from the U.S. Treasury Department.

Account Phases

The rules differ dramatically between evaluation and funded phases at Take Profit Trader, creating a unique two-tier system that gives traders flexibility during the challenge. Take Profit Trader permits unrestricted news trading in the evaluation phase while enforcing a 1-minute buffer for funded traders.

Evaluation phase (unrestricted):

• Evaluation Test accounts: Zero news trading restrictions of any kind

• Complete freedom to hold positions through FOMC, NFP, CPI, and all other events

• No buffer requirements, no penalties, no monitoring of news trading activity

• Traders can demonstrate their news trading skills without artificial constraints

Funded phase (restricted):

• PRO accounts: Mandatory 1-minute buffer on three core events plus instrument-specific restrictions

• PRO+ accounts: Identical policy to PRO accounts with same buffer requirements

• Rules apply equally regardless of account size or funding tier

• No graduated system where larger accounts receive more lenient rules

Once funded, all accounts transition to strict news trading rules immediately. There is no grace period or warning phase. The one-minute buffer requirement applies from the moment your account receives funded status. Both PRO and PRO+ funded accounts follow identical news trading policies, with no differences based on account tier or capital allocation.

How Take Profit Trader Enforces News Trading Rules

Take Profit Trader uses automated monitoring systems to detect news trading violations on funded accounts. The platform analyzes trade timestamps and compares them against the scheduled release times of restricted news events stored in their compliance database.

The enforcement system operates continuously during trading hours. If a trader has an open position or pending order within the one-minute buffer zone, the system flags it as a violation. Trade timestamp analysis is precise to the second, checking whether positions were opened, held, or closed during the prohibited window.

Even if a trader intended to close before news but experienced execution delays, the violation still counts. Intent does not override the timestamp evidence. The system does not distinguish between intentional news trading and accidental exposure. If your position is open at 8:29:30 AM and NFP releases at 8:30:00 AM, you have violated the rule.

Violations result in immediate account termination. Take Profit Trader does not issue warnings for news trading violations because the rules are clearly stated in their terms and the events are scheduled months in advance on public economic calendars. There is no appeals process. Since the restricted events are scheduled and publicized well in advance, Take Profit Trader holds traders accountable for knowing when these events occur.

Comparison to Industry Standards

Take Profit Trader's news trading policy is notably more lenient than many futures prop firms in one significant way: evaluation accounts have zero restrictions. Many competitors prohibit news trading or enforce buffer zones even during the evaluation phase, making it harder for traders to pass their challenges. The complete freedom during evaluation at Take Profit Trader allows aggressive news traders to demonstrate their skills without limitation.

However, the funded account restrictions align fairly closely with industry standards. The one-minute buffer is actually shorter than some firms that enforce two-minute, three-minute, or even five-minute buffers around major news events. The specific events restricted (FOMC, NFP, CPI) represent the consensus among futures prop firms about which announcements create unacceptable risk.

The instrument-specific restrictions for crude oil and Treasury futures are less common but not unique in the industry. These additions show Take Profit Trader recognizes that certain futures products face unique volatility risks around industry-specific news. If you want to see how other firms handle buffer times and which events they restrict, you can compare prop firms to evaluate different policies. For a detailed breakdown of rules across firms, visit our prop firm list section to see comprehensive comparisons.

Strategies for Trading Around News at Take Profit Trader

Using Economic Calendars

To avoid accidental violations at Take Profit Trader, traders must use reliable economic calendars and set up comprehensive alert systems. Relying on memory or informal reminders is insufficient given the consequences of violations on funded accounts.

Recommended economic calendar platforms:

• Forex Factory: Most popular free economic calendar with excellent filtering, highly reliable timing, and customizable impact levels

• Investing.com: Comprehensive filtering options, mobile app with push notifications, ability to customize by impact level and country

• TradingView: Integrated calendar directly within the charting platform, synchronized with your trading workspace

• CME Group economic calendar: Futures-focused event tracking with emphasis on reports that move derivatives markets

Set up email or mobile alerts for the three core restricted events (FOMC, NFP, CPI) and any instrument-specific events relevant to your trading. If you trade crude oil, add EIA inventory reports to your alert system. If you trade Treasury futures, track bond auction schedules from the U.S. Treasury Department.

Most calendar platforms allow you to set multiple reminders at different intervals. Configure alerts for 15 minutes before, five minutes before, and two minutes before scheduled releases. This layered approach ensures you receive multiple warnings as restricted events approach.

Timing Your Trades

Calculate safe trading windows by identifying when the one-minute buffer begins and ends. For an 8:30 AM NFP release, your safe window closes at 8:29 AM and reopens at 8:31 AM. Use countdown timers or platform alerts to ensure you exit positions with plenty of margin for error.

If you have open positions before a restricted news event approaches on your funded Take Profit Trader account, your options are limited and clear. You must close the position before the one-minute buffer begins. Do not attempt to hold through the news or hope for favorable movement.

Consider the timezone of scheduled releases carefully. Take Profit Trader specifies all times in Eastern time, so traders in other timezones must convert accurately. A 2:00 PM Eastern FOMC announcement occurs at 11:00 AM Pacific, 7:00 PM GMT, or 8:00 PM CET. Platform timezone settings can cause confusion, so verify your charting software displays times that match the economic calendar timezone you're monitoring.

Build your trading schedule around known restricted events. On first Fridays when NFP releases, plan to either trade the overnight session before 8:29 AM Eastern or wait until after 8:31 AM. On FOMC Wednesdays, avoid afternoon positions unless you can actively monitor and close them before 1:59 PM Eastern.

Alternative Strategies

For traders on funded accounts who want to avoid news trading complications entirely, intraday approaches offer viable alternatives that naturally sidestep high-impact volatility windows.

Strategies that work within prop firm rules:

• Intraday scalping: Multiple quick trades during non-news periods with all positions closed before settlement

• Day trading: Capturing intraday moves while respecting both news buffers and end-of-day closing requirements

• Session-based trading: Focus exclusively on specific trading sessions (Asia, Europe, or NY) while closing all positions before market close

• Pre-market and early-session trading: Trade the overnight session but ensure all positions are closed well before restricted news times and daily settlement

Most futures prop firms require all positions closed before daily settlement. Never suggest holding positions overnight or through settlement. All strategies must be intraday only. Futures prop firms require positions closed before daily settlement.

For evaluation accounts where news trading is unrestricted, you have a unique opportunity to experiment with news-based strategies without consequence. This is an excellent time to learn whether trading volatility spikes aligns with your risk tolerance and skill set. If you discover you excel at news trading during evaluation, you'll need to completely adjust your approach once funded.

Avoiding Accidental Violations

Close all positions at least two to three minutes before restricted news events to provide a safety buffer beyond the required one minute. This extra cushion protects against execution delays, platform issues, or last-second order processing problems that could result in a violation.

Practical prevention steps:

• Close all positions 2-3 minutes before restricted events for safety margin beyond the required buffer

• Set up redundant alerts across multiple devices including your phone calendar, trading platform notifications, and economic calendar apps

• Review the economic calendar every morning before trading to identify any restricted events occurring that day

• Verify your platform timezone matches Eastern time standards to prevent conversion errors that could cause violations

Double-check the economic calendar every morning before you start trading at Take Profit Trader. Make a list of any restricted events occurring that day and note the exact Eastern time they're scheduled. Keep this list visible on your trading desk or as a note on your screen throughout the session.

Understand that Take Profit Trader uses Eastern time for all scheduled event references. Verify your platform's timezone settings and your personal calendar timezone match this standard to prevent conversion errors. A miscalculated timezone conversion could cause you to hold a position through the buffer period unintentionally.

Why Take Profit Trader Has These News Trading Rules

Take Profit Trader implements news trading restrictions on funded accounts primarily for risk management and capital protection. During major economic announcements like NFP or FOMC, futures markets experience extreme volatility that can result in catastrophic account drawdowns in seconds.

Slippage during these events often exceeds normal expectations by 10x or more, meaning a stop-loss order placed at a reasonable distance might execute much farther away than intended. A five-tick protective stop on ES futures might slip 15-20 ticks during NFP if liquidity evaporates at the wrong moment. This creates unacceptable risk for any prop firm.

Liquidity evaporates during the immediate seconds surrounding high-impact news. Market makers widen bid-ask spreads dramatically, sometimes by 200-300%, and the order book thins out significantly. For a prop firm, these conditions create an environment where a single trader's position could experience losses far exceeding normal risk parameters.

The potential for manipulation or lucky gambling also concerns firms. A trader who repeatedly bets on news direction might experience a fortunate streak that doesn't reflect genuine trading skill. By restricting news trading on funded accounts, Take Profit Trader ensures that profits come from sustainable trading strategies rather than high-risk event speculation.

Protecting both traders and the firm is the ultimate goal. New traders often underestimate news volatility and blow up accounts during these events. By enforcing buffer zones, Take Profit Trader reduces the likelihood that a funded trader will experience a account-ending loss due to a single news event.

Final Verdict: Should You Trade News at Take Profit Trader?

Yes, Take Profit Trader allows news trading during evaluation with zero restrictions, but funded traders must strictly observe the one-minute buffer around FOMC, NFP, and CPI events, plus instrument-specific restrictions for crude oil and Treasury futures.

For beginners, the safest approach is to avoid trading within 10-15 minutes of major news events, even during the unrestricted evaluation phase. The extreme volatility and unpredictability make these periods unsuitable for developing traders who lack experience managing fast-moving markets. Use evaluation time to build skills in more controlled conditions and demonstrate consistency rather than chasing volatile news events.

Experienced traders who understand news volatility can take advantage of the unrestricted evaluation phase to demonstrate their abilities. However, be prepared to completely change your strategy once funded. If your edge relies heavily on news trading, Take Profit Trader funded accounts will not support that approach for the three major restricted events.

The one-minute buffer is relatively short compared to industry standards, giving funded traders the ability to capture post-news momentum quickly after the initial spike settles. Traders who focus on the aftermath rather than the immediate release can still profit from increased volatility while remaining compliant.

Always maintain an updated economic calendar with alerts configured for all restricted events relevant to your instruments. Set reminders on multiple devices and lean toward caution by closing positions early. The potential profit from one news trade is never worth risking account termination on a funded account. Whether you're planning to trade through news during evaluation or adjusting your strategy for funded trading, understanding Take Profit Trader's news trading rules from the start will help you build a sustainable approach. When you're ready to begin your evaluation, use code SOPF at checkout for the best available discount.

Take Profit Trader News Trading FAQs

Does Take Profit Trader allow news trading during the evaluation phase?
Yes, Take Profit Trader allows news trading during the evaluation phase without any restrictions. Traders can hold positions through all economic events including FOMC, NFP, and CPI with no buffer requirements or penalties.

What happens if I accidentally trade news at Take Profit Trader on a funded account?
Your account will be terminated immediately. Take Profit Trader does not distinguish between accidental and intentional violations, and there is no appeals process since restricted events are scheduled in advance.

How long is the news trading buffer at Take Profit Trader?
Take Profit Trader enforces a 1-minute buffer before, during, and after FOMC, NFP, and CPI events on all funded accounts. Crude oil traders have an additional buffer during EIA reports, and Treasury futures traders during bond auctions.

Can I trade news on a funded Take Profit Trader account?
No, you cannot trade during FOMC, NFP, or CPI events on funded accounts. You must close all positions and cancel all orders one minute before these events. Federal Reserve speakers and FOMC meeting minutes are allowed.

Does Take Profit Trader restrict news trading on all instruments or just certain futures?
Take Profit Trader restricts all futures instruments during FOMC, NFP, and CPI events. Crude oil futures have additional restrictions during EIA inventory reports, and Treasury futures (ZN, ZB) during bond auctions.

How does Take Profit Trader detect news trading violations?
Take Profit Trader uses automated monitoring systems that analyze trade timestamps to the second. Any open position or pending order within the 1-minute buffer window triggers immediate account termination.

Can I hold positions through news at Take Profit Trader?
No, you cannot hold positions through restricted news events on funded accounts. You must exit all positions before the 1-minute buffer begins. During evaluation, you can hold positions through any news event without restrictions.

Does Take Profit Trader allow news trading on commodity and index futures?
Take Profit Trader applies the same 1-minute buffer to all futures during FOMC, NFP, and CPI events. Crude oil futures have an additional weekly restriction during EIA inventory reports at 10:30 AM Eastern on Wednesdays.

What economic calendar should I use to avoid news trading violations at Take Profit Trader?
Use Forex Factory, Investing.com, TradingView, or CME Group economic calendar. Set multiple alerts for restricted events and verify your platform timezone matches Eastern time to prevent conversion errors.

What time zone does Take Profit Trader use for news trading buffers?
Take Profit Trader uses Eastern time for all news trading buffers. Traders in other time zones must convert accurately (Pacific is 3 hours behind, GMT is 5 hours ahead).

Does Take Profit Trader allow scalping around news events?
Yes, during evaluation you can scalp freely around news. On funded accounts, scalpers must observe the same 1-minute buffer but can resume immediately after the buffer expires to capture post-news momentum.

Can I trade during Federal Reserve speaker events at Take Profit Trader?
Yes, you can trade during Federal Reserve speaker events and FOMC meeting minutes on all accounts. Only formal FOMC policy statements trigger the 1-minute buffer restriction.

What is the current Take Profit Trader promo code for an evaluation account?
The best way to get a discount on your Take Profit Trader evaluation account is by using the promo code SOPF at checkout. Applying code SOPF will ensure you receive the maximum available saving on your next evaluation purchase.

Disclaimer: Prop firm rules and requirements change frequently. While this article reflects the most accurate information available at the time of writing, some details may become outdated. If you notice an error or need clarification, please contact us.