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Which holidays affect my trading schedule for Funded Level Accounts?
Which holidays affect my trading schedule for Funded Level Accounts?
Updated over a week ago

This information applies to the Express Funded Account and Live Funded Account. If you are trading in the Trading Combine, please see this article for Holiday Trading information.

What does it mean to follow the CME Protocol for Holidays?

The information below will tell you what it means to follow the CME Protocol for Holidays:

  • When planning your trading sessions during holidays, it's important to know if your data provider follows the 'CME Protocol'. Check the table below to see if the Trading Platform you are using Follows CME Protocol

  • On recognized holidays with shortened trading hours, the CME might combine multiple calendar days into one trading day.

  • For example, if a holiday falls on a Monday with reduced trading hours, the exchange may consider all profits and losses from Sunday's opening to Tuesday's close as one trading day.

What does it mean if the platform I use does NOT follow CME Protocol?

If the platform you use does not follow the CME Protocol, each day, including holidays with shorter trading hours, is counted separately. Profits and losses, as well as drawdowns, reset at the end of each calendar day.

CME Protocol (Yes or No)

Trading Platform

Data Provider

No

Tradovate

TradingView

CQG

No for Express Funded Account. Yes for Live Funded Account.

TopstepX

Sim2Funded

Yes

NinjaTrader
Sierra Chart

Jigsaw daytradr

MultiCharts

R|Trader

Rithmic

Yes

CTS/T4

Understanding the Abbreviated Hours around Holidays and Flattening Requirements:

  • Our list of Holiday Hours includes days when the market is closed for the holiday, as well as days with abbreviated trading hours. We'll also indicate if funded traders cannot trade on these holidays.

  • Depending on the holiday, Topstep may permit or restrict trading during shortened hours.

  • You'll receive an email with more details about each holiday as they approach.

  • Topstep requires traders in Funded Accounts to close all positions 30 minutes before the early close. Failing to do so by 11:30 AM CT could lead to account suspension.

  • For example, on January 15th, 2024, Topstep permits holiday trading. The markets stop trading at 12:00 PM CT, so Funded Accounts must be flat 30 minutes before, at 11:30 AM CT.

  • Our team of Risk Managers will begin automatically flattening all open positions and cancel all working orders in all accounts starting at 11:58 AM CT. This is an extra step we take to help our traders, but it is not 100% guaranteed, so it's extremely important to stay mindful of holiday hours and flattening your own positions before the market closes.

The table below will provide an example of when positions must be closed depending on the type of account you have with Topstep.

Account Type:

Close Positions (on 01/15/2024)

Trading Combine

Before 12:00 PM CT

Express Funded Account™

Before 11:30 AM CT

Live Funded Account

Before 11:30 AM CT

Tip: Trading days with early closes are the ones you will want to consider the CME Protocol mentioned above.

2024 Holiday Trading Hours:

  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday, January 15, 2024

    • Monday, January 15: All positions must be closed by 11:30 AM CT. You may reopen positions after 5:00 PM CT.

  • President's Day - Monday, February 19, 2024

    • Monday, February 19: All positions must be closed by 11:30 AM CT. You may reopen positions after 5:00 PM CT.

  • Good Friday - Friday, March 29, 2024

    • Friday, March 29: Markets closed. You may reopen positions after 5:00 PM CT on Sunday, March 31.

  • Memorial Day - Monday, May 27, 2024

    • Monday, May 27: All positions must be closed by 11:30 AM CT. You may reopen positions after 5:00 PM CT.

  • Juneteenth - Wednesday, June 19, 2024

    • Wednesday, June 19: All positions must be closed by 11:30 AM CT. You may reopen positions after 5:00 PM CT.

  • Independence Day - Thursday, July 4, 2024

    • Wednesday, July 3: All positions must be closed by 11:30 AM CT. You may reopen positions after 5:00 PM CT.

    • Thursday, July 4: All positions must be closed by 11:30 AM CT. You may reopen positions after 5:00 PM CT.

  • Labor Day - Monday, September 2, 2024

    • Monday, September 2: All positions must be closed by 11:30 AM CT. You may reopen positions after 5:00 PM CT.

  • Thanksgiving - Thursday, November 28, 2024

    • Thursday, November 28: All positions must be closed by 11:30 AM CT. You may reopen positions after 5:00 PM CT.

    • Friday, November 29: All positions must be closed by 11:45 AM CT. You may reopen positions after 5:00 PM CT on Sunday, December 1.

  • Christmas - Wednesday, December 25, 2024

    • Tuesday, December 24: All positions must be closed by 11:45 AM CT.

    • Wednesday, December 25: Markets Closed. You may reopen positions after 5:00 PM CT.

  • New Year’s - Wednesday, January 1, 2025

    • Wednesday, January 1: Markets Closed. You may reopen positions after 5:00 PM CT.

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