What Counts as a Trading Day in Futures?

📅 What Counts as a Trading Day in Futures?

In futures trading, a trading day is not the same as a calendar day.

Instead, it follows the CME Group Globex session, which starts in the evening of one day and runs into the next day. Here's how it breaks down:

🕒 Futures Trading Day Breakdown (EST):

⏸ No Trading Over the Weekend:
Trading closes Friday at 5:00 PM EST and resumes Sunday at 6:00 PM EST — this is the weekend break.

📌 Example:

Let’s say today is Sunday, October 6th.

• At 6:00 PM EST Sunday, the Monday trading session begins.

• Trading continues until 5:00 PM EST on Monday, when the session ends.

• Even though trading happens across two calendar days (Sunday + Monday), it is one trading day: Monday.

⚠️ Why This Matters:

• Daily loss limits apply per trading day, not calendar day.

• Reset and evaluation logic in prop firm accounts is based on this session timing.

• Be careful trading near the session close (5:00 PM EST) — the market shuts briefly and reopens at 6:00 PM EST.

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTICE:

All positions must be closed by 4:45 PM EST — no exceptions.

This is to protect against increased volatility, lower liquidity, and potential margin calls during the 4:45–5:00 PM EST maintenance window.

✅ Open positions after 4:45 PM EST may result in disqualification from evaluation or funded status.