Does FTMO's News Trading Policy include medium-impact economic releases?

FTMO's policy applies to high-impact news events, but their definition includes more releases than many traders expect. This covers major central bank announcements, employment data, inflation reports, and GDP releases. When in doubt, treat any market-moving news as restricted to avoid account termination.

What happens if I breach the News Trading Policy?

FTMO immediately terminates your account for any news trading violation, regardless of whether the trade was profitable or not. You lose your challenge fee and cannot withdraw any profits earned. There are no warnings or second chances - the breach results in instant disqualification from both challenge and funded phases.

Does the 2-minute restriction reset if news is delayed?

The 2-minute window applies to the actual release time, not the scheduled time. If news is delayed by 30 minutes, the restriction period shifts to the new release time. You must monitor real-time news feeds rather than relying solely on scheduled calendar times to avoid violations.

Are pending orders considered news trading violations?

Yes, pending orders that execute during the 2-minute restriction window violate FTMO's news trading policy. You must cancel all pending orders before the restriction period begins, not just avoid placing new market orders. Stop losses and take profits on existing positions are also affected by this rule.

Does FTMO's News Trading Policy include medium-impact economic releases?

FTMO's policy applies to high-impact news events, but their definition includes more releases than many traders expect. This covers major central bank announcements, employment data, inflation reports, and GDP releases. When in doubt, treat any market-moving news as restricted to avoid account termination.

What happens if I breach the News Trading Policy?

FTMO immediately terminates your account for any news trading violation, regardless of whether the trade was profitable or not. You lose your challenge fee and cannot withdraw any profits earned. There are no warnings or second chances - the breach results in instant disqualification from both challenge and funded phases.

Does the 2-minute restriction reset if news is delayed?

The 2-minute window applies to the actual release time, not the scheduled time. If news is delayed by 30 minutes, the restriction period shifts to the new release time. You must monitor real-time news feeds rather than relying solely on scheduled calendar times to avoid violations.

Are pending orders considered news trading violations?

Yes, pending orders that execute during the 2-minute restriction window violate FTMO's news trading policy. You must cancel all pending orders before the restriction period begins, not just avoid placing new market orders. Stop losses and take profits on existing positions are also affected by this rule.

Updated 2026-03-08

FTMO News Trading Policy Rule Explained

FTMO

Quick Answer

FTMO restricts news trading with no positions allowed within 2 minutes before or after high-impact economic events.

The rule applies to all major economic news releases and creates a 4-minute total blackout window around each event. Traders must close all positions before the 2-minute pre-news window and cannot open new trades until 2 minutes after the news release. Violating this policy results in immediate account termination regardless of profitability.

Key Rule Details

Policy

Restricted

Detail

No trading within 2 minutes before or after major

Applies To

All high-impact news (NFP, FOMC, CPI)

Enforcement

Automated — breach triggers account review

Phases

Challenge and Funded

Calculation Example

Account Size: $100,000 — News Trading Policy: 2 min before/after

Account Size	$100,000
News Trading Policy Limit	2 min before/after
Scenario: Closed P&L	NFP release at 8:30 AM ET
Scenario: Floating P&L	Trading restricted
Total Exposure	Must close positions 2 min before
Remaining Buffer	Monitor news calendar

Limit used:50%

Common Mistakes

Ignoring Minor News Events

Traders assume only NFP or FOMC meetings count as high-impact news, but FTMO's policy covers all major economic releases including CPI, GDP, and central bank speeches. A trader holding EUR/USD during an unexpected ECB announcement could face immediate termination even if the position was profitable.

Forgetting Weekend Gap Trades

Opening positions on Sunday evening near major news scheduled for Monday morning violates the 2-minute rule if economic data releases early. A $50,000 account holder opening EUR/USD at 21:58 GMT Sunday before Monday's 22:00 GMT inflation data would breach the policy and lose their $345 challenge fee.

Holding Through News Accidentally

Traders enter positions forgetting about upcoming news events and fail to close before the 2-minute window. A $100,000 account trader holding GBP/USD when Bank of England announces surprise rate decisions would face automatic disqualification, losing their $540 investment regardless of trade outcome.

Timezone Calculation Errors

Converting news release times incorrectly leads to trading during restricted periods. A trader calculating EST instead of GMT for ECB announcements might open EUR trades at what they think is 3 minutes after, but is actually 1 minute after the news. This timing error results in immediate account termination.

Protection Strategies

Set Personal 5 Minute Buffer Zone

Create your own 5-minute buffer before and after news events instead of FTMO's 2-minute minimum. This accounts for early releases, timezone errors, and execution delays. Use economic calendars to mark all high-impact events and avoid trading 5 minutes before and after each release.

Use News Calendar Trading Blocks

Block out entire trading sessions containing multiple news events rather than managing individual 2-minute windows. On days with morning CPI and afternoon Fed speeches, avoid trading those currency pairs entirely. This eliminates the risk of miscalculating multiple overlapping restriction periods.

Enable News Event Alert Systems

Set up MT4/MT5 alerts and phone notifications 10 minutes before all high-impact news events. Use economic calendar apps with push notifications to ensure you never miss a release time. Configure alerts to remind you to close positions and avoid new entries well before the 2-minute restriction begins.

Avoid Currency Pairs During News Days

Don't trade major currency pairs on days with high-impact news affecting those currencies. Skip EUR pairs entirely on ECB meeting days and avoid USD pairs during FOMC or NFP releases. Focus on unaffected pairs or commodities to eliminate any possibility of news trading violations.

Related Rules

Profit Target (Phase 1)

10%

→

Profit Target (Phase 2)

→

FTMO Comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Prop firm rules change regularly — always verify current terms on FTMO's official website before purchasing a challenge. Updated 2026-03-08.