Futures rules
Futures rules at a glance
What ends a futures account, what only costs you a day or some profit, and what applies before a payout.
Rules that close the account
| Rule | Trigger | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| EOD trailing drawdown | Equity below your drawdown floor, at any moment | Every account |
| End-of-day close | A position still open after 4:45 PM New York time | Every account |
| Inactivity | 30 days without a trade | Every account |
Rules that pause trading or remove profit
| Rule | Effect | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Daily loss lockout | Positions closed, trading off until the next 4:45 PM ET reset. The account stays open. | Atlas Standard |
| Short trades | Profit on trades held under 3 minutes is deducted | Funded accounts |
| News window | Profit on trades opened or closed within 5 minutes of high-impact news is deducted | Funded accounts |
Rules that affect passing and payouts
| Rule | Effect |
|---|---|
| Profit target and minimum days | Both needed to pass an evaluation |
| Qualifying days | Needed in each payout cycle |
| Consistency | Standard (50% to pass, 40% funded), Direct and Live (20%) |
| Payout cap and reserve | Up to 50% of cycle profit, capped by size |
Allowed
- Any CME futures contract available on your platform, within your contract limits.
- Algorithmic and automated trading, within the rules.
- Trading on any weekday, as long as you're flat by 4:45 PM ET.
Last reviewed 27 September 2026. Rules shown are read from the Atlas risk engine.