TakeProfitTrader News Trading Policy: How Not to Blow Your PRO Account

Most futures traders don’t lose their TakeProfitTrader account because of bad setups.
They lose it because they didn’t understand the news trading policy — specifically the tiny 1–2 minute window around high-impact events where new entries are banned.

I’ve traded TPT’s Test, PRO, and PRO+ accounts, survived the intraday trailing drawdown, and withdrawn real payouts. This guide breaks down their news rules with zero fluff — and explains the real-world consequences traders learn the hard way.

If you want the tactical, trader-first version (not the marketing version), this is it.

Learned the hard way: I've breached a TakeProfitTrader PRO account because I didn't adjust for the intraday trailing drawdown switch from Test. The rule breakdowns here come from real trading experience—including my mistakes and what actually causes account terminations.

The single biggest trap at TakeProfitTrader is the drawdown change between tiers—EOD trailing in Test, intraday trailing in PRO, back to EOD in PRO+. I broke down every rule with real examples and compliance strategies in my complete TakeProfitTrader rules guide, including the consistency rule, position limits, and news trading restrictions. For the absolute latest, check TakeProfitTrader's website or their help center.

Quick Summary of TakeProfitTrader’s News Rules

If you need the TL;DR before diving in, here it is:

• Test (Evaluation) → News trading allowed.
  No time restrictions.
• PRO & PRO+ → Restricted.
  No opening new trades 1–2 minutes before or after high-impact events.
• Holding through news → Allowed.
  You can keep positions open, you just can’t open new ones.
• Closing trades → Always allowed.
  The restriction applies only to entries.
• Violations → Auto-liquidation or account breach.
  And TPT is strict — especially on PRO+.
• Flat by 5 PM ET → Mandatory.
  This rule kills more accounts than news itself.

What Counts as “News” at TakeProfitTrader?

TakeProfitTrader only restricts Tier-1 U.S. economic releases, including:

• CPI & Core CPI
• FOMC Statements
• Federal Rate Decisions
• NFP
• PCE & Core PCE
• PMI (select high-impact cases)
• GDP releases
• Crude Oil Inventories (periodically enforced)
• Treasury rate / auction announcements

If you actively trade news, cross-check the actual dates via the Economic Calendar — this removes the guesswork.

Why TakeProfitTrader Blocks Entries Around News

It’s not about babysitting traders.

It’s about risk containment inside a model that pays actual profits from simulated performance.

Volatility spikes during Tier-1 events can:

• blow through stops
• accelerate into the drawdown buffer
• distort fills
• create instant 40–100 tick candles on ES/NQ

If you’re in a PRO account with an intraday trailing drawdown, a single CPI candle can wipe the buffer intraday even if the trade looks fine on paper.

The Exact +/- 2 Minute Rule (Explained Like a Trader)

TakeProfitTrader enforces a restricted entry window around the release time.

You cannot open new positions from:

1–2 minutes before the news → to 1–2 minutes after the news.

• Exact duration depends on the event’s impact level.
• The system timestamps orders to the millisecond.
• Even 1 second early can trigger a violation.

You can:

• Hold positions through news
• Close positions inside the restricted window
• Scale OUT, but not scale IN

Scaling in counts as a new entry, which is banned.

Realistic Scenarios (So You Don’t Misinterpret the Rule)

Example 1 — CPI at 8:30 AM ET

Restricted window: 8:28 → 8:32

• Open at 8:27:59 → allowed
• Open at 8:28:01 → violation
• Close at 8:30:15 → allowed
• Scale in at 8:31:40 → violation
• Hold from 7:45 AM → allowed

Example 2 — FOMC at 2:00 PM ET

Restricted window: 1:58 → 2:02

• Holding into FOMC → allowed
• Opening right after the candle wick at 2:01 → violation
• Closing any time → allowed

Example 3 — NFP at 8:30

If you're in PRO with intraday trailing drawdown, this combo can nuke your account even without breaking rules.

If you need structure on how to handle volatile periods, this belongs in your next read:
→ How to Pass a Prop Trading Challenge on the First Try

TakeProfitTrader News Rules by Account Type

The Rule That Kills More TPT Accounts Than News: The 5 PM ET Flatten

This needs its own section.

TakeProfitTrader enforces a mandatory flat rule at:

5:00 PM Eastern Time — every trading day

If you hold even one micro contract past 5:00 PM:

• your trade is force-closed
• your account risks immediate breach
• on PRO+ it’s even more unforgiving

This rule has nothing to do with news —
but in practice, it’s the single biggest reason PRO+ accounts blow up.

Tips to Stay Compliant (So You Don’t Get Auto-Liquidated)

1. Stop trading 3–5 minutes before news

The restriction says 1–2 minutes.
Smart traders extend it — because you’re not here to test milliseconds.

2. Never scale in near the window

Scaling into winners is the #1 violation trigger.

3. Know the event times in ET

TradingView displays your local timezone.
TPT enforces Eastern Time.

4. Manage intraday trailing drawdown

For PRO & PRO+, your drawdown moves intraday with unrealized PnL.
News spikes + intraday trailing = deadly.

5. Plan to be flat by 4:55 PM at the latest

Don’t rely on auto-flattening — that’s how violations happen.

Is TakeProfitTrader’s News Policy Trader-Friendly?

Short answer: Yes — for a futures prop firm.

The policy is:

• clear
• simple
• predictable
• and consistent with real CME volatility patterns

It’s not designed to trap you.
It’s designed to stop people from nuking accounts on CPI candles.

If your style is structured and you’re not a news scalper, this rule barely affects you.
If your style is news scalping… this isn’t your firm.

Frequently Asked Questions About TakeProfitTrader News Trading Policy

Does TakeProfitTrader allow news trading?

TakeProfitTrader restricts news trading around designated high-impact economic events. A 1–2 minute no-entry window applies before and after major releases — you cannot open new positions during that window. Existing positions opened before the restriction window can be held or closed normally. This restriction applies during both the evaluation phase and on funded accounts. Traders who specifically need to enter on the initial volatility spike of a news release should choose a firm without buffer windows.

How long is TakeProfitTrader's news buffer window?

TakeProfitTrader enforces a 1–2 minute no-entry buffer window around high-impact economic releases. The exact buffer length can vary by event type — Tier-1 releases like NFP and FOMC decisions may carry a slightly longer window than lower-tier data releases. The safest approach is to treat the window as 2 minutes before and 2 minutes after every flagged event on the economic calendar rather than trying to parse exact window lengths by event category.

Can you hold existing positions through a news event at TakeProfitTrader?

Yes — TakeProfitTrader's news restriction only blocks new entries during the buffer window. Positions that were already open before the news window can be held through the event, scaled down, or closed at any time without restriction. The distinction matters significantly for traders who use pre-positioning strategies — entering 5–10 minutes before a major release, then holding through the announcement — which is fully permitted. What's prohibited is entering at or immediately after the release itself.

What events trigger TakeProfitTrader's news restriction?

TakeProfitTrader's news restriction applies to high-impact economic releases designated on the firm's approved event list. These typically include NFP, FOMC interest rate decisions and minutes, CPI, PPI, GDP releases, retail sales reports, and major central bank speeches. The firm uses an internal calendar to flag restriction events — always verify the current event list in your account agreement rather than assuming any specific release is or isn't included.

What is TakeProfitTrader's 5 PM ET flatten rule?

TakeProfitTrader requires all open positions to be closed by 5 PM ET every trading day — no exceptions. This mandatory end-of-day flatten rule is separate from the news trading restriction. Positions still open at 5 PM ET are automatically liquidated. The 5 PM ET rule eliminates overnight holding entirely, making TakeProfitTrader a strictly intraday platform. Traders who want to hold positions overnight must choose a different firm — TakeProfitTrader's structure is explicitly built for same-day close strategies.

Does TakeProfitTrader's news restriction apply during evaluation?

Yes — the 1–2 minute news buffer window applies during the evaluation phase as well as on funded accounts. Violations during evaluation are treated with the same seriousness as funded-phase violations. An evaluation pass achieved partly through trades entered during a news restriction window may be disqualified on review. Trade compliantly throughout the evaluation to ensure your pass is clean and doesn't create complications at the funded account activation stage.

What happens if you enter a trade during TakeProfitTrader's news window?

Entering a new position during TakeProfitTrader's news buffer window is a rule violation. Depending on the severity and frequency of violations, consequences can range from a warning and profit reversal on the violating trade to account termination. Repeat violations or violations that generate significant P&L are treated more seriously than accidental single-occurrence entries. Some traders use platform alerts or news calendar plugins to ensure they're never inadvertently in an entry during a flagged window.

How does TakeProfitTrader's news policy compare to Tradeify?

Tradeify has zero news trading restrictions — you can enter, exit, and scale positions freely at any point around any economic release with no buffer window. TakeProfitTrader's 1–2 minute window is a meaningful constraint by comparison. For traders who make their primary income on NFP and FOMC volatility by entering on the initial move, Tradeify is the more appropriate firm. TakeProfitTrader's restriction is most relevant for scalpers who want to capture the 1–5 tick spike in the first seconds after a release.

How does TakeProfitTrader's news policy compare to Alpha Futures?

Alpha Futures Standard and Zero also enforce a 2-minute buffer window around Tier-1 releases — structurally similar to TakeProfitTrader's restriction. Alpha Advanced removes the news restriction entirely. TakeProfitTrader's 1–2 minute window is comparable to Alpha Standard's 2-minute window in practical impact. The key difference: Alpha Advanced gives a clean upgrade path to no restrictions within the same firm; TakeProfitTrader has no news-restriction-free account tier — the restriction applies universally across all account types.

Can you use TakeProfitTrader if you trade NFP every month?

You can trade NFP at TakeProfitTrader with a pre-positioning approach — enter your position 5–10 minutes before the release, manage it through the announcement. What you can't do is enter at or within 1–2 minutes of the report drop. If your edge specifically requires a post-release entry on the initial volatility spike, TakeProfitTrader's restriction eliminates that entry point. Pre-positioning works but adds a different kind of uncertainty — you're holding through the number rather than reacting to it.

What is TakeProfitTrader's profit split?

TakeProfitTrader offers a 90/10 profit split — you keep 90% of all profits from the first payout. There is no tiered ramp structure. The 90/10 split applies consistently across all account sizes and throughout your funded tenure. Combined with TakeProfitTrader's relatively accessible evaluation parameters, the 90/10 from day one is a competitive split that matches industry standard for non-100% front-loaded structures.

What drawdown type does TakeProfitTrader use?

TakeProfitTrader uses an end-of-day trailing drawdown model — the drawdown floor adjusts at session close based on your highest end-of-day closed balance, not on intraday equity movements. This is consistent with the better-structured firms in the space and means intraday spikes never pull your floor upward against you. The mandatory 5 PM ET close means your daily close is always your actual net P&L for the day — no ambiguity about what counts as the EOD balance.

What platforms does TakeProfitTrader support?

TakeProfitTrader supports trading through Rithmic-connected platforms including NinjaTrader, Tradovate, R|Trader Pro, and Quantower. The Rithmic data feed provides institutional-grade market data. NinjaTrader is the most popular choice among TPT traders for its ATM strategy system and SuperDOM layout. Tradovate is the easiest starting platform if you're new to the Rithmic-connected ecosystem and want minimal setup time before your first funded session.

Is TakeProfitTrader a good fit for scalpers?

TakeProfitTrader is a solid fit for scalpers who don't depend on news entry timing — intraday scalping strategies based on price action, order flow, or technical levels operate freely within the TPT framework. The 5 PM ET close is not a constraint for scalpers who typically trade the morning session (8:30–11:30 AM ET). The news buffer only becomes a problem for scalpers who specifically target the volatility burst in the first 30–90 seconds after a major release. Pattern and level-based scalpers are unaffected.

Does TakeProfitTrader have a consistency rule?

TakeProfitTrader enforces a consistency rule on funded accounts — your single best trading day cannot represent an outsized percentage of your total payout cycle profits. The specific percentage threshold is defined in your funded account agreement. This consistency rule is separate from the news trading restriction and operates independently. A clean trading day where you made large profits during a non-restricted window can still create a consistency rule payout block if that day dominates your cycle total.

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