Summary
MegaTrader’s trading hours are aligned with the CME Group’s futures market schedule. Understanding these hours is essential for tracking trading days, staying in compliance, and qualifying for payouts. This article explains the official market session times and how they affect your activity.
Official Trading Day Window
A trading day is counted as at least one trade placed from 6:00 PM EST/EDT to 5:00 PM EST/EDT the next day.
This 23-hour window reflects the standard futures market session, and it’s important to understand that “trading day” refers to this session—not the standard calendar day.
Session Start | 6:00 PM EST/EDT (Previous Calendar Day) |
Session End | 5:00 PM EST/EDT (Current Calendar Day) |
Why It Matters
Minimum Trading Days: A trade must be placed during one complete session to count toward your plan’s trading day requirement.
Avoiding Confusion: Even if you place two trades on the same calendar day, if they fall on opposite sides of the session cut-off (e.g., 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM), they count as two separate market sessions.
Drawdown & PnL Resets: Profit and drawdown metrics are calculated and reset after the session closes at 5:00 PM EST/EDT.
Example
Trade placed at 10:00 AM EST = part of the current session
Trade placed at 7:00 PM EST = part of the next session
Though both trades fall on the same calendar day, they belong to two different trading sessions, and each would count as a separate trading day.
Tips for Staying Compliant
Time your trades based on the 6:00 PM – 5:00 PM session window
Avoid assuming the calendar day defines a trading day
Use your dashboard to confirm trade timestamps and session alignment
Need Help?
Not sure if your trades are being counted correctly? Reach out to us at [email protected] or open a live chat inside your portal.