Flat at Close Rule
It's 3:59 PM CT. You have an open NQ position that's $800 in profit. You think: "I'll close it at 4:00." At 4:00:01, your account gets flagged for a rule violation. That $800 profit? Gone — along with your entire funded account.
What Is the Flat at Close Rule?
The "flat at close" rule requires that you close all open positions and cancel all pending orders before the daily market close. In futures trading, this is typically 4:00 PM CT (Central Time) when the CME daily session ends.
This rule exists because prop firms don't want to carry overnight gap risk on sim-funded accounts. A surprise overnight event (geopolitical crisis, earnings) could cause a gap that blows through drawdown limits.
Close Times by Exchange
| Exchange | Products | Must Be Flat By |
|---|---|---|
| CME (E-mini) | ES, NQ, RTY, YM | 3:59 PM CT |
| NYMEX | CL (Oil), NG (Gas) | 3:59 PM CT |
| COMEX | GC (Gold), SI (Silver) | 3:59 PM CT |
| CBOT | ZB, ZN (Bonds) | 3:59 PM CT |
Set an alarm! The #1 reason traders violate this rule is simply forgetting. Set a daily alarm at 3:50 PM CT. Also delete any pending/stop orders — those count as open positions too.
Futures vs. CFD: Different Rules
Futures Firms
Almost universally enforce flat-at-close. Violation = instant account termination in most firms. No second chances.
CFD Firms
Most allow weekend holding and overnight positions. FTMO, FundedNext, and The5ers all allow holding through weekends. This is a major advantage for swing traders.
Check all hidden rules in one place
Our Hidden Rules database shows flat-at-close policies and 50+ other rules that firms don't always advertise.
Hidden Rules Database