A futures exchange can be open while a prop-firm account requires the trader to be flat. Session cutoffs, maintenance windows and holiday closes must therefore be checked at both the exchange and firm level. The earliest applicable deadline should control the trading plan.
Four clocks to track
| Clock | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Exchange session | When the contract trades |
| Broker/data connection | Platform access and maintenance |
| Prop-firm flat time | When positions and orders must be closed |
| Local timezone | The time shown to the trader |
A mismatch between any two can create an accidental hold.
Daily flat-time checklist
- Identify the firm’s cutoff in its stated timezone.
- Convert it to your local timezone.
- Confirm daylight-saving status.
- Check the contract’s exchange schedule.
- Review platform maintenance.
- Set an alert 30 minutes before cutoff.
- Stop opening trades that cannot be managed before the deadline.
- Close positions manually.
- Cancel all working orders.
- Verify every connected account is flat.
Working orders are part of the risk
Closing a position does not always cancel a separate stop or limit. An orphaned order can open a new trade after the intended exit. Check:
- Open positions
- Working orders
- Partially filled orders
- Bracket-order status
- Copier follower accounts
- Mobile and desktop sessions
Take a screenshot or export the order log when the cutoff is operationally important.
Holiday schedules
Exchange holidays can create early closes, late opens or shortened liquidity. A normal weekly template may be wrong on a holiday. Check the official exchange calendar and any prop-firm announcement before trading.
Do not assume the firm automatically adjusts its published deadline in the same way as the exchange. When instructions conflict, obtain written support confirmation or follow the earlier time.
Overnight versus weekend holding
These permissions are separate:
- Overnight holding means remaining open across the daily session break.
- Weekend holding means remaining open through Friday close into the next week.
A plan may allow one and prohibit the other. An evaluation and funded account can also use different rules.
Timezone example
Suppose a firm publishes a 4:45 p.m. ET flat time. A trader should not permanently store one local conversion because U.S. and local daylight-saving changes may occur on different dates. Use a timezone-aware calendar each day.
Risk near the cutoff
Liquidity can thin near maintenance. Market orders may slip, while limit orders may not fill. Build enough time to exit without depending on the final minute.
A personal cutoff 10–15 minutes earlier can provide room to handle a rejected order or connection problem. This is a risk-control choice, not a universal firm rule.
Sources to verify
Use the official exchange product calendar, the broker or platform status page and the current prop-firm dashboard. CME Group’s education section provides futures-session and contract information at CME education.
Bottom line
Treat the session cutoff as an operational process, not a single timestamp. Track exchange, platform, firm and local clocks; exit early enough to verify positions and working orders across every account.