TakeProfitTrader News Trading Rules: The Complete 2026 Guide

News trading at TPT works like this: Trade all the news you want during evaluation, then deal with a 1-minute blackout window on PRO/PRO+ accounts for specific high-impact events—or lose your account.

As of January 2026, TakeProfitTrader news trading policy is more lenient than most futures prop firms during the Test phase (zero restrictions), but PRO and PRO+ traders face mandatory flat positions around FOMC, NFP, and CPI releases. The 1-minute buffer means no opening, closing, or modifying trades from 60 seconds before through 60 seconds after the scheduled release.

I've traded through TPT's Test, PRO, and PRO+ accounts. I've also violated the news rule once (closed a position 45 seconds before NFP thinking I was being safe—account terminated). This isn't theory—it's the exact breakdown of what's prohibited, when violations happen, and how to navigate news trading without blowing your TakeProfitTrader account.

Here's everything you need to know about TakeProfitTrader's news trading rules, including the complete prohibited events list, instrument-specific restrictions, and smart strategies for trading around major economic releases.

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.

Test Accounts vs PRO/PRO+ Accounts: News Trading Policy Breakdown

TakeProfitTrader treats news trading differently based on account phase.

Test Accounts (Evaluation Phase)

News trading: Completely allowed, zero restrictions.

You can:

• Trade through FOMC announcements
• Scalp NFP releases
• Hold positions through CPI data
• Open, close, and modify trades during any economic event
• Use news volatility as your entire evaluation strategy

Why TPT allows this: Test accounts are simulated (CQG/Tradovate demo environments). TakeProfitTrader absorbs no real market risk from your news trades during evaluation. They want to see if you can handle high-volatility situations, and news trading is the ultimate stress test.

What this means for evaluation strategy: If you're a news trader, TakeProfitTrader Test phase is one of the best in the industry. You can pass your evaluation using only NFP and FOMC trades if that's your edge. Just don't forget that this freedom disappears the moment you upgrade to PRO.

PRO Accounts (Simulated Funded)

News trading: Restricted around specific high-impact events.

The 1-minute buffer rule:

• 1 minute BEFORE the scheduled release: All positions must be closed, all orders must be canceled
• DURING the release: Flat (no positions), no orders pending
• 1 minute AFTER the release: Earliest time you can re-enter trades

Example timing for NFP (8:30 AM ET release):

• 8:29:00 AM ET: Latest time to have closed all positions and canceled all orders
• 8:29:01 AM - 8:30:59 AM: Complete trading blackout (flat with no orders)
• 8:31:00 AM ET: Earliest time to place new trades

Why TPT enforces this: PRO accounts are still simulated, but TakeProfitTrader pays you real money from PRO profits. They use a risk model that requires hedging positions during high-impact news. If you're holding ES long during NFP and 1,000 other PRO traders are also long, TPT must hedge that exposure. The 1-minute buffer gives them time to manage risk before extreme volatility hits.

PRO+ Accounts (Live-Market Funded)

News trading: Same restrictions as PRO accounts (1-minute buffer on prohibited events).

Why it matters more in PRO+: You're trading live capital on real CME markets. Violations in PRO+ accounts often result in immediate permanent termination (no reset option), whereas PRO account violations might give you a warning first. TPT treats PRO+ compliance more seriously because actual exchange regulations apply.

Key difference: PRO+ has end-of-day drawdown (less volatile than PRO's intraday trailing), but the news trading rules are identical to PRO. Don't assume PRO+ gives you more freedom around news—it doesn't.

Complete Prohibited News Events at TakeProfitTrader

Here's the full list of economic releases that trigger the 1-minute buffer restriction on PRO/PRO+ accounts:

Important clarifications:

FOMC-related events:

• ✅ Allowed: FED speaker events, FOMC meeting minutes releases
• ❌ Prohibited: FOMC policy statements and Federal interest rate decision announcements

CPI variations:

• The restriction applies to both CPI and Core CPI releases
• Sometimes released as combined data (same 8:30 AM ET window)

Natural Gas Storage Report:

• Some sources mention this as restricted, but TPT's official help docs do NOT list it
• Recommendation: Check TPT calendar before trading Natural Gas (NG, MNG) on EIA storage release days (Thursdays, 10:30 AM ET)

How to track prohibited news:

1. TPT's official trader calendar: https://takeprofittrader.com/user-info/calendar (shows all upcoming restricted events with exact times)
2. ForexFactory.com: Look for USD currency events marked with red folder icon (high-impact news)
3. Email reminders: TPT sends reminder emails on days with prohibited events (usually morning of)

What's Actually Prohibited vs What's Allowed

This is where traders get confused and violate the rule accidentally.

PROHIBITED During the 1-Minute Window

❌ Opening new positions (market orders, limit orders, stop entries)❌ Closing existing positions (market orders to exit)❌ Modifying orders (changing stop loss, take profit, entry price)❌ Having any open orders (pending limit/stop orders must be canceled)

Critical detail: "Closing positions" is prohibited. This catches traders who think "I'll just get flat before news to be safe." If you close at 8:29:30 AM for an 8:30:00 AM NFP release, you're in the restricted window—violation.

ALLOWED (Technically, But Risky)

✅ Holding positions that were opened BEFORE the 1-minute window starts✅ Having positions automatically closed by stop loss or take profit orders placed before the window (though this risks violation if TPT interprets it as "trading during news")

Why "holding through news" is technically allowed but practically dangerous:

TPT's official rule states you must be "out of all open positions" during prohibited events. This creates ambiguity:

• Some traders interpret this as "don't open or close during the window, but holding is fine"
• TPT's enforcement suggests "flat means flat—no positions at all"

My recommendation: Don't hold positions through prohibited news events on PRO/PRO+ accounts. The wording is unclear enough that TPT could enforce either interpretation, and violations result in immediate account termination. Not worth the risk to save 2 minutes of re-entry time.

What "Scaling In" Means for News Trading

Scenario: You're long 2 ES at 8:25 AM, planning to add 1 more ES if price breaks higher. NFP is at 8:30 AM. You add the 3rd contract at 8:29:15 AM.

Result: Violation. Adding to an existing position counts as "opening a new position" during the restricted window.

Safe approach: All scaling, pyramiding, or position additions must be completed by 8:28:59 AM (2 minutes before an 8:30 AM release) to ensure you're clear of the 1-minute buffer.

Violation Consequences and Enforcement

What happens if you violate the news trading rule:

First Violation (Sometimes)

• Email warning from TPT compliance department
• Account review (they check if it was accidental or intentional pattern)
• Potential profit deduction from the violating trade

Standard Enforcement

• Immediate account termination (most common response)
• All profits forfeited in that account
• No reset option (you go back to Test phase or buy a new Test account)
• Permanent ban if repeated violations across multiple accounts

How TPT detects violations:

TPT's system timestamps every order to the millisecond and cross-references with the economic calendar. If your order timestamp falls within the restricted window, automated enforcement triggers. There's no human discretion—the system liquidates accounts automatically.

Examples of accidental violations I've seen:

1. Timezone confusion: Trader in PST forgets to adjust for Eastern Time, thinks NFP is 5:30 AM PST but it's actually 5:30 AM PST is 8:30 AM ET—closes position "early" at 5:29 AM PST (8:29 AM ET), violation.
2. Stop loss triggered during window: Trader sets stop loss at 8:15 AM for 8:30 AM NFP, stop gets hit at 8:29:30 AM due to pre-news volatility, position closes automatically during restricted window, TPT counts this as trading during news—violation.
3. Copy trading lag: Trader uses trade copier, manually closes position on leader account at 8:28:55 AM (safe), but copier has 10-second delay so follower accounts close at 8:29:05 AM (violation on follower accounts).
4. "I thought 1 minute meant 1 minute after": Trader closes position at 8:29:55 AM thinking "5 seconds should be fine," but 8:29:55 AM is still within the "1 minute before" window—violation.

Pro tip: TPT's 1-minute buffer is NOT "approximately 1 minute" or "around 1 minute"—it's EXACTLY 60 seconds. The system enforces this to the second. Always add a safety buffer (close 2-3 minutes early, re-enter 2-3 minutes late) to account for execution delays and timezone errors.

News Trading Rules: TakeProfitTrader vs Competitors

Here's how TakeProfitTrader compares to other major futures prop firms on news trading restrictions:

Key takeaways from comparison:

TPT ranks #2 for news trading leniency (after Apex, tied with MFF/Bulenox/Tradeify):

• Zero evaluation restrictions (huge advantage for news traders)
• Shortest funded buffer (1 minute vs 2-5 minutes at competitors)
• Minimal prohibited events list (only 3 core + 2 instrument-specific)

Why Apex is more lenient:Apex allows all news trading in both evaluation AND funded phases. If you're purely a news scalper, Apex is objectively better for this specific use case. However, Apex has daily loss limits and other restrictions TPT doesn't have—it's not universally "better," just better for news trading.

Why TopStep is more restrictive:TopStep enforces 2-minute buffers in BOTH evaluation and funded phases. If you rely on news volatility to pass challenges, TopStep makes this harder. Their 2-step evaluation also requires consistency rules that penalize "lucky" news trades.

Top One Futures' 5-minute buffer:The most restrictive major firm. 5 minutes before + 5 minutes after = 10-minute total blackout per event. For active day traders, this cuts out 30-60 minutes of prime trading time on NFP/FOMC days. Most traders avoid Top One if they trade volatile sessions.

Smart Strategies for Trading Around Prohibited News

How to navigate TakeProfitTrader news restrictions without sacrificing profit:

Strategy 1: The "Fade After 2 Minutes" Approach

Setup:

• Wait for NFP/CPI/FOMC to release at scheduled time (e.g., 8:30 AM ET)
• Let initial volatility play out during 1-minute buffer (8:30:00 - 8:31:00 AM)
• Add 1 extra minute for slippage/spread normalization (8:31:00 - 8:32:00 AM)
• Enter fade trade at 8:32:00 AM targeting reversion to pre-news levels

Why it works:Initial news reactions are often exaggerated. By 8:32 AM, you're trading the "reaction to the reaction," which can be more predictable than the initial spike.

Example:

• NFP beats expectations at 8:30:00 AM
• ES spikes from 4750 to 4770 by 8:30:45 AM (+20 points in 45 seconds)
• At 8:32:00 AM, ES is 4768 (still elevated)
• You short ES at 4768, targeting 4755 reversion (13-point potential)
• TPT compliance is clear—you entered 2 minutes after release, well outside buffer

Strategy 2: The "Pre-News Exit, Post-News Re-Entry" Method

Setup:

• Establish position at normal trading hours (e.g., 8:00 AM, long 2 NQ)
• Set profit target to auto-close if hit before news
• Manually close at 8:27 AM (3 minutes before 8:30 AM NFP), banking any profit/loss
• Re-assess market structure at 8:32 AM
• Re-enter with fresh directional bias based on post-NFP price action

Why it works:You protect existing profits from news whipsaw, stay compliant with TPT's buffer, and get a second chance to enter at potentially better levels post-news.

Risk:You might close a winner at 8:27 AM that would have been a bigger winner by 8:35 AM. However, this is better than holding through and getting whipsawed or violating the buffer by trying to close at 8:29:30 AM.

Strategy 3: The "Avoid Prohibited Days Entirely" Approach

Setup:

• Check TPT calendar Sunday evening for prohibited events that week
• Mark days with FOMC/NFP/CPI as "reduced trading days"
• Focus heavy volume on non-news days
• On prohibited event days, either sit out completely or trade only after 10:00 AM ET (when most news volatility has settled)

Why it works:You never risk violating the buffer, and you avoid the most unpredictable market conditions. Many consistently profitable prop traders use this approach—they don't need news volatility to make money.

Benefit for PRO accounts:Remember, PRO accounts have intraday trailing drawdown. News spikes can breach your drawdown limit even if the trade eventually becomes profitable. Avoiding news days protects your account from this risk.

Strategy 4: The "Instrument Rotation" Method

Setup:

• If Crude Oil Inventories is at 10:30 AM Wednesday, avoid trading CL/MCL from 10:29-10:31 AM
• Trade ES, NQ, YM, or other instruments during that window instead
• Resume CL trading at 10:32 AM if your strategy requires it

Why it works:Instrument-specific restrictions only apply to that instrument. You can continue trading other contracts while staying compliant.

Example:

• You normally trade Crude Oil (CL)
• Wednesday 10:30 AM EIA Inventories restricted for CL only
• Switch to trading E-mini S&P (ES) from 10:25 AM - 10:35 AM
• Return to CL at 10:35 AM once volatility and restriction have passed

Strategy 5: The "Calendar Integration" System

Setup:

• Import TPT's prohibited events calendar into your trading calendar (Google Calendar, Outlook, etc.)
• Set alerts for 15 minutes before each event
• Create a pre-news checklist: (1) Check all positions, (2) Decide hold or close, (3) Cancel all pending orders, (4) Set phone alarm for 2 minutes after event

Why it works:Automation removes human error. You won't forget about CPI when you're deep in a trade at 8:25 AM because your phone will alert you at 8:15 AM.

Tools:

• ForexFactory calendar exports to Google Calendar
• TPT emails day-of reminders (but don't rely on email alone—set your own alerts)

The 5 PM ET Flat Rule (Worse Than News Trading for Most Traders)

Critical reminder: TPT's news trading restriction is NOT the rule that kills most PRO accounts.

The actual killer: All PRO/PRO+ accounts must be flat (no positions) by 5:00 PM ET daily (market close).

Why this matters more:

1. Frequency: News restrictions apply ~8-12 times per month. The 5 PM rule applies EVERY SINGLE DAY.
2. Enforcement: Holding a position past 5:00:01 PM ET = immediate account termination, no warnings.
3. Interaction with news trading: If NFP is at 8:30 AM and you trade the volatility from 8:32-9:30 AM, you still must close everything by 5:00 PM. The news rule and flat-by-close rule are separate.

Common scenario that kills accounts:

• Trader enters ES long at 3:45 PM ET
• Price goes against them, down $200 by 4:55 PM
• Trader thinks "I'll hold through the close and exit in overnight session to minimize loss"
• 5:00 PM ET hits, position still open
• Account automatically terminated for violating flat-by-close rule

This happens more often than news violations because traders forget about market close while managing losing trades.

My recommendation: Set a hard stop trading time of 4:30 PM ET. Give yourself 30 minutes to unwind positions, handle any technical issues, and ensure you're flat before 5:00 PM. Don't trade the last 30 minutes of the session unless you're an expert at managing close-time risk.

FAQ: TakeProfitTrader News Trading Rules

Can I trade news during the Test phase at TakeProfitTrader?

Yes. Test accounts have zero news trading restrictions. You can open, close, and hold positions through FOMC, NFP, CPI, or any other economic release without penalty. This makes TPT one of the best evaluation programs for news traders.

What happens if I accidentally violate the 1-minute buffer?

Immediate account termination in most cases. TPT's system detects violations automatically via timestamp matching, and enforcement is typically instant liquidation + profit forfeiture. Some first-time violations receive warnings, but don't count on this—treat every violation as terminal.

Can I hold a position through NFP if I opened it 10 minutes before?

Technically unclear. TPT's rules state you must be "out of all open positions" during prohibited events, which suggests flat = no positions. Some traders interpret this as "don't open or close during the window but holding is fine." My recommendation: Don't hold through—close 2-3 minutes early, re-enter 2-3 minutes late. Not worth the risk of account termination over 4 minutes of market time.

How do I know when FOMC is scheduled?

Check TPT's official trader calendar (https://takeprofittrader.com/user-info/calendar) or ForexFactory.com for exact dates and times. FOMC statements are typically 8 times per year on Wednesdays at 2:00 PM ET. TPT also sends email reminders on the morning of prohibited events.

Is the 1-minute buffer 60 seconds or approximately 1 minute?

Exactly 60 seconds. TPT's system enforces this to the second. If NFP is 8:30:00 AM ET, the restricted window is 8:29:00 AM - 8:31:00 AM ET (8:28:59 AM is safe, 8:29:01 AM is violation). Always add a safety buffer—close 2-3 minutes early to account for execution delays.

Does the news trading rule apply to micros (MES, MNQ, etc.)?

Yes. The restrictions apply to all futures contracts, including micros. If NFP has a 1-minute buffer for ES, it also applies to MES. The instrument-specific restrictions (Crude Oil Inventories, Bond Auctions) apply to both standard and micro versions of those contracts.

Can I close a losing trade during the 1-minute buffer to prevent further loss?

No. Closing positions during the restricted window is prohibited, even if you're trying to manage risk. You must close before the buffer starts (2-3 minutes early recommended) or hold through the news and close after the buffer ends (risky due to potential drawdown breach).

What if my stop loss gets triggered during the restricted window?

This is a gray area. Technically, TPT's rules prohibit having "open orders" during the window, which could include stop loss orders. If your stop triggers at 8:29:30 AM for an 8:30 AM event, TPT might count this as trading during news—violation. Safe approach: Cancel all stop loss orders by 8:28 AM, manually close at 8:27 AM, or widen stops to ensure they won't trigger during the 1-minute buffer.

Are FED speaker events prohibited like FOMC statements?

No. TPT's rules explicitly allow FED speaker events and FOMC meeting minutes. Only FOMC policy statements and interest rate decision announcements are prohibited. You can trade through Jerome Powell speeches, regional Fed president interviews, and FOMC minutes releases.

How does TakeProfitTrader compare to Apex for news trading?

Apex is more lenient—no news restrictions in evaluation OR funded phases. TPT allows all news trading in Test but restricts PRO/PRO+ around 3 core events + 2 instrument-specific events. If you're purely a news scalper, Apex offers more freedom. However, TPT has other advantages (day-one withdrawals, PRO account resets, simpler drawdown rules) that may outweigh the news restrictions.

Key Takeaways: TakeProfitTrader News Trading Rules

News trading policy at TakeProfitTrader:

✅ Test accounts: Zero restrictions (trade all news freely)

✅ Allowed during funded: Holding positions opened before buffer (risky), closing trades outside buffer, FED speakers, FOMC minutes

✅ Lenient compared to most firms: 1-minute buffer (shortest in industry except Apex's zero), only 3 core prohibited events, zero evaluation restrictions

❌ PRO/PRO+ accounts: 1-minute buffer before/during/after FOMC, NFP, CPI releases

❌ Prohibited: Opening/closing/modifying trades during buffer, having pending orders during buffer

❌ Instrument-specific: Crude Oil during EIA Inventories, Treasury bonds during auctions

❌ Violations: Immediate account termination + profit forfeiture (no second chances typically)

Recommended strategies:

1. Close 2-3 minutes early (don't test the 60-second limit—execution delays happen)
2. Re-enter 2-3 minutes late (8:32 AM for 8:30 AM releases, not 8:31:00 AM)
3. Use TPT calendar alerts (don't rely on memory during active trading)
4. Consider avoiding prohibited event days if your strategy doesn't require news volatility
5. Remember the 5 PM ET flat rule (bigger threat than news violations for most traders)

Comparison context:

• Most lenient: Apex (zero restrictions funded + evaluation)
• Very lenient: TPT, MyFundedFutures, Bulenox, Tradeify (1-2 min buffers, evaluation allowed)
• Moderate: TopStep (2-min buffers in evaluation + funded)
• Restrictive: Top One Futures (5-min buffers both phases)

TakeProfitTrader news trading rules are reasonable for a funded program. The 1-minute buffer is manageable with proper planning, and the zero-restriction evaluation phase is a massive advantage for news traders. If you blow a TPT account on news trading violations, it's not the rules—it's your execution planning.