Alpha Futures Weekend Holding Rule
The Simple Answer
Not on sim accounts, but yes on LIVE accounts. Alpha Futures requires trades to be closed by 4:20 PM EST on every simulated account, which rules out weekend holding. On a LIVE account with Alpha Prime, swing trading and overnight holding are permitted.
Below is a breakdown of how the Alpha Futures weekend holding rules apply across different account types and stages.
Breakdown by Account Type
Zero Evaluations
Zero accounts are simulated, so the sim rule applies: trades must be closed by 4:20 PM EST and cannot be carried overnight or into the weekend. Zero accounts also carry the Daily Loss Guard at 2 percent, so a position left running toward the close can trip that as well.
Advanced Evaluations
Advanced accounts are simulated too and follow the same 4:20 PM EST close. They have no preset Daily Loss Guard, which makes the close time the main intraday discipline on the account.
Direct Accounts
Direct accounts skip the evaluation but remain simulated until you reach LIVE, so the sim close time applies throughout.
LIVE Accounts with Alpha Prime
This is the exception, and it is a real one. Alpha states that trades do not need to be closed by 4:20 PM EST like they do on sim accounts, and that swing trading and holding overnight is indeed permitted. The caveat Alpha attaches is margin: it warns there is a large difference in overnight position margin requirements, so a size that is comfortable intraday may not be fundable overnight. Legacy Live traders before 21 June start on a $10,000 static non-trailing drawdown account with no consistency rule and no news restrictions, and the Daily Loss Limit starts at $3,000 and scales at 30 percent of account balance as the account grows.
Session Close and Reopen Times
Futures accounts do not pay swaps, so what matters instead is knowing exactly when you have to be flat and when the market comes back. These are the times that govern that.
Warning System for Weekend Holding Violations
On simulated accounts the 4:20 PM EST close is the boundary, and Alpha treats the Daily Loss Guard breach as a soft one that locks the account until 6 PM ET rather than failing it. On LIVE accounts the risk shifts from rule breach to margin: Alpha flags that overnight margin requirements differ substantially from intraday, so check what your position will require before the close rather than after. Alpha also states its Performance Team will step in where traders act recklessly or try to collect a monthly salary on minimum trades, and those traders are removed from the program with their contract breached.
Final Comments
Weekend gap risk is the reason this rule exists, and it is why almost every futures firm wants you flat before the close on Friday. Treat the auto-close as a backstop rather than a plan, because the firms that offer it are the same firms that tell you not to rely on it.
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FAQ
Is weekend holding allowed in Alpha Futures?
Not on sim accounts, but yes on LIVE accounts. Alpha Futures requires trades to be closed by 4:20 PM EST on every simulated account, which rules out weekend holding. On a LIVE account with Alpha Prime, swing trading and overnight holding are permitted.
Can I hold over the weekend on a Zero Evaluation account?
Evaluation phase: Not allowed, close by 4:20 PM EST. Funded phase: Not allowed. Zero accounts are simulated, so the sim rule applies: trades must be closed by 4:20 PM EST and cannot be carried overnight or into the weekend. Zero accounts also carry the Daily Loss Guard at 2 percent, so a position left running toward the close can trip that as well.
Can I hold over the weekend on a Advanced Evaluation account?
Evaluation phase: Not allowed, close by 4:20 PM EST. Funded phase: Not allowed. Advanced accounts are simulated too and follow the same 4:20 PM EST close. They have no preset Daily Loss Guard, which makes the close time the main intraday discipline on the account.
What happens if I break the Alpha Futures weekend holding rule?
On simulated accounts the 4:20 PM EST close is the boundary, and Alpha treats the Daily Loss Guard breach as a soft one that locks the account until 6 PM ET rather than failing it. On LIVE accounts the risk shifts from rule breach to margin: Alpha flags that overnight margin requirements differ substantially from intraday, so check what your position will require before the close rather than after. Alpha also states its Performance Team will step in where traders act recklessly or try to collect a monthly salary on minimum trades, and those traders are removed from the program with their contract breached.
What time do I have to be flat with Alpha Futures?
Sim account close, all positions flat: 4:20 PM EST. The full list of session times is in the table above, and different product groups can have different deadlines.
