Apex Trader Funding Weekend Holding Rule
The Simple Answer
No. Apex requires all trades closed before 4:59 PM ET and states it is your responsibility to ensure the account is flat, adding that it will not take responsibility for trades left open through the market close. A trading day runs 6 PM ET to 4:59 PM ET the next day, so nothing carries across the weekend.
Below is a breakdown of how the Apex Trader Funding weekend holding rules apply across different account types and stages.
Breakdown by Account Type
EOD and Intraday Drawdown evaluations
Both evaluation types run on the same session. All trades must be closed before 4:59 PM ET, and trading resumes at 6:00 PM ET. Apex defines a trading day as 6 PM ET one day to 4:59 PM ET the next, which is close to 23 hours of continuous access inside a single day but with a hard boundary at the end of it.
Performance Accounts
Funded Performance Accounts sit under the same trading times. Apex publishes the rule at firm level rather than per account, so passing the evaluation does not extend your window.
Agricultural markets close hours earlier
This is the detail that catches traders out, and Apex publishes a full table for it. Lean hogs, live cattle and feeder cattle close at 2:05 PM ET. Corn, wheat, soybeans, soybean meal and soybean oil close at 2:20 PM ET. Everything else on the Apex list, meaning equity index, currency, energy, micro and crypto futures, closes at 5 PM ET. Apex states directly that agricultural markets must be closed earlier and that some markets close earlier than 5:00 PM ET.
Holidays
Apex reminds traders that some markets close early on holidays and points to the CME holiday calendar. It also publishes adjusted trading hours through its Status Updates page when holidays shift the schedule.
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
Apex is blunt about where the responsibility sits: it is your responsibility to ensure that your account is flat before 4:59 PM ET, and Apex will not take responsibility for trades that are left open through market close. Its Legacy Evaluation rules put it even more plainly, describing the 4:59 PM rule as a fail-safe rather than a primary trade-close tool, and warning that leaving trades open may push you past your threshold and cause account failure. Treat 4:59 PM as the backstop, not the plan.
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 Apex Trader Funding?
No. Apex requires all trades closed before 4:59 PM ET and states it is your responsibility to ensure the account is flat, adding that it will not take responsibility for trades left open through the market close. A trading day runs 6 PM ET to 4:59 PM ET the next day, so nothing carries across the weekend.
Can I hold over the weekend on a EOD Drawdown Evaluation account?
Evaluation phase: Not allowed, close before 4:59 PM ET. Funded phase: Not allowed. Both evaluation types run on the same session. All trades must be closed before 4:59 PM ET, and trading resumes at 6:00 PM ET.
Can I hold over the weekend on a Intraday Drawdown Evaluation account?
Evaluation phase: Not allowed, close before 4:59 PM ET. Funded phase: Not allowed. Funded Performance Accounts sit under the same trading times. Apex publishes the rule at firm level rather than per account, so passing the evaluation does not extend your window.
What happens if I break the Apex Trader Funding weekend holding rule?
Apex is blunt about where the responsibility sits: it is your responsibility to ensure that your account is flat before 4:59 PM ET, and Apex will not take responsibility for trades that are left open through market close. Its Legacy Evaluation rules put it even more plainly, describing the 4:59 PM rule as a fail-safe rather than a primary trade-close tool, and warning that leaving trades open may push you past your threshold and cause account failure. Treat 4:59 PM as the backstop, not the plan.
What time do I have to be flat with Apex Trader Funding?
Trading day: 6:00 PM ET to 4:59 PM ET the following day. The full list of session times is in the table above, and different product groups can have different deadlines.
