An economic release refers to news reports that provide key information about the performance and health of the economy. These releases include indicators like unemployment numbers, FOMC, and PMI updates. Traders should exercise caution when trading during the news or economic releases as they can significantly impact market movements and influence trading decisions.
For major economic releases, Topstep refers to the economic calendar listed below (all times listed are in Central Time). Economic releases cause extreme volatility and large price swings and are very difficult to trade consistently and profitably. While we no longer require traders to flatten their trades for economic releases (in either SIM or Funded Accounts), we highly recommend using caution or avoiding trading when a release is coming up that may impact a product you are trading.
Why are economic releases important:
This allows the market to digest new information, ensuring responsible risk management
It’s important to know what releases affect the product(s) you are trading
Unemployment Rate 7:30 AM CT | ES, NKD, NQ, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6E, 6J, 6S, E7, GE, YM, UB, ZT, ZF, ZN, ZB, GC, RTY, SI, HG, TN, 6M, M6A, M6E, 6N, MBT, MET |
FOMC Statement 1:00 PM CT | |
Crude Oil Inventories (EIA) 9:30 AM CT/10:00 AM CT* | CL, QM, MCL, RB |
Natural Gas Inventories (EIA) 9:30 AM CT | NG, QG |
Crop Production 11:00 AM CT | ZC, ZS, ZW, ZM, ZL |
*Pending Abbreviated Trading Hours. Times are subject to change without notice, traders are responsible for being aware of what economic releases are and when they occur.
**Micro contracts also apply
Can I trade during the news?
Yes, you can trade during the news. Topstep does not require traders to flatten their open trades/orders during the news, but we highly recommend using caution or avoiding trading when a release is coming up that may impact a product you are trading.
Topstep also provides alerts for economic releases to help you manage your trading account. These alerts do not prevent rule breaks, and you are still responsible for managing your trading account to avoid rule breaks during news events. You can enable alerts for economic releases by clicking on the bell icon on the top-right of your Topstep dashboard.