AquaFutures News Trading Rules: What's Allowed on Evaluations vs Funded Accounts

Written by Paul

Published on

January 12, 2026

News trading rules differ between evaluation and funded accounts on AquaFutures: evaluation accounts typically prohibit trading during Tier-1 high-impact news events (FOMC, NFP, CPI, GDP) within 2-5 minutes before/after release to prevent lottery-style gambling on volatility spikes. Funded accounts often allow news trading with no restrictions, though some firms maintain cautionary guidelines. The prohibition during evals exists because massive volatility (50-100 point ES swings in seconds) enables traders to hit $3,000 profit targets with single lucky trades—undermining the evaluation's purpose of testing consistent skill.

Violating news trading rules during evaluations results in account termination even if you're profitable—a $3,000 winner during NFP gets flagged and denied funding during manual review. Most traders avoid news entirely during evals (safer) and experiment cautiously once funded when restrictions lift. The key distinction: Tier-1 news (prohibited) vs Tier-2/3 news (allowed)—understanding which events trigger restrictions prevents accidental violations and failed evaluations.

I'm breaking down Tier-1 vs Tier-2/3 news definitions, evaluation vs funded account rules comparison, specific restricted time windows, how violations are detected, real examples of denied funding, strategies to trade around news safely, and whether you should trade news once funded or avoid it completely.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with Aquafutures and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check Aquafutures´s website or their faq page.

Tier-1 News Events (High Restriction Risk)

Definition: Economic releases with massive immediate market impact (50-100+ point moves in seconds).

Common Tier-1 events:

Event	Frequency	Typical Impact (ES)	Restriction Window
FOMC Rate Decision	8x per year	50-150 points	2:00pm-2:05pm ET (5 min window)
Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP)	Monthly (1st Fri)	40-80 points	8:30am-8:35am ET (5 min window)
CPI (Inflation)	Monthly	30-60 points	8:30am-8:35am ET (5 min window)
GDP Release	Quarterly	25-50 points	8:30am-8:35am ET (5 min window)
Fed Chair Speech (Powell)	Varies	30-70 points	During speech + 5 min after
Jobs Report (Unemployment)	Monthly (1st Fri)	20-50 points	8:30am-8:35am ET (5 min window)

Key insight: These events move markets violently in seconds. Trading them during evaluations = gambling, not skill demonstration.

For full Tier-1 list, see the Tier-1 news events guide.

Tier-2 News Events (Moderate Impact, Usually Allowed)

Definition: Economic data with meaningful but predictable impact (10-25 point moves).

Examples:

Retail Sales
Housing Starts
Consumer Confidence
Jobless Claims (weekly)
PMI (Manufacturing/Services)
Durable Goods Orders
Trade Balance

Typical restriction: None during evaluations (usually allowed, check AquaFutures policy).

Impact: 10-25 point ES moves over 5-15 minutes (not instant like Tier-1).

Tier-3 News Events (Low Impact, Always Allowed)

Definition: Minor releases or speeches with minimal immediate effect (<10 points).

Examples:

Regional Fed speeches (non-Powell)
Treasury auctions
Minor economic indicators
Corporate earnings (individual stocks)
International news (unless major crisis)

Restriction: None. Trade freely.

Evaluation Account Rules (Strict)

Typical AquaFutures policy:

❌ No positions 2-5 minutes before/after Tier-1 news

What this means:

FOMC at 2:00pm ET → Can't hold positions 1:58pm-2:05pm
NFP at 8:30am ET → Can't hold positions 8:28am-8:35am
CPI at 8:30am ET → Can't hold positions 8:28am-8:35am

Allowed:

✅ Trade before the window (close positions by 1:55pm for FOMC)

✅ Trade after the window (enter positions after 2:05pm)

✅ Trade Tier-2/3 news anytime (if confirmed allowed)

Violation examples:

❌ Long 4 ES at 1:59pm, FOMC at 2:00pm (position held during restricted window)

❌ Enter at 2:01pm, exit 2:02pm (traded within 5-minute window)

❌ Enter at 8:29am, NFP at 8:30am (held position through release)

Consequences:

Immediate evaluation failure
Profits voided
Must restart evaluation
Some firms: Permanent ban for intentional violations

For evaluation rules, see the evaluation rules guide.

Funded Account Rules (Relaxed or None)

Typical AquaFutures policy:

✅ All news trading allowed (no restrictions)

Why the difference:

Evaluations: Testing skill, preventing lottery wins

Funded accounts: You've proven skill, can trade as you wish

However, many firms still advise:

⚠️ "Use caution during Tier-1 news—extreme volatility increases breach risk"

Translation: You CAN trade news, but it's risky. Most funded traders still avoid Tier-1.

Best practice once funded:

Conservative: Avoid Tier-1 entirely (close positions 10 minutes before)
Moderate: Trade Tier-1 with reduced size (2-3 contracts instead of 6)
Aggressive: Trade Tier-1 at full size (6 contracts), accept high risk

Most successful funded traders: Conservative or moderate. Tier-1 news is unpredictable—even for funded accounts.

For funded account details, see the funded account guide.

Evaluation vs Funded: Side-by-Side Comparison

Scenario	Evaluation Account	Funded Account
Trading during FOMC	❌ Prohibited (instant termination)	✅ Allowed (but risky, use caution)
Trading during NFP	❌ Prohibited (instant termination)	✅ Allowed (but risky, use caution)
Trading during CPI	❌ Prohibited (instant termination)	✅ Allowed (but risky, use caution)
Tier-2 news (Retail Sales)	✅ Usually allowed (check policy)	✅ Allowed
Tier-3 news (minor data)	✅ Allowed	✅ Allowed
Holding overnight before FOMC	⚠️ Must close before 1:58pm next day	✅ Allowed (can hold through)

Key takeaway: Evaluations are strict (prevent gambling), funded accounts are flexible (but still risky).

How News Trading Violations Are Detected

Method 1: Timestamp Analysis

AquaFutures tracks every trade timestamp:

FOMC release: 2:00:00pm ET
Your trade: 2:01:30pm ET entry, 2:03:00pm ET exit
Violation detected: Traded within 5-minute restricted window

Method 2: P&L Spikes

Unusual profit patterns trigger review:

Day 1-20: $100-$300/day consistent
Day 21 (FOMC day): +$2,800 profit in 2 minutes
Flagged for review: Likely news trading violation

Method 3: Manual Review Before Funding

When you pass evaluation, compliance team reviews:

Trade history during Tier-1 events
Position holdings during restricted windows
Profit sources (consistent skill vs lucky news trades)

If violation found: Denied funding, must restart evaluation.

Method 4: Economic Calendar Cross-Reference

AquaFutures cross-references your trades against economic calendars:

Forexfactory.com
Investing.com
CME economic calendar

Any trades during Tier-1 windows = automatic flag.

Real Examples: Denied Funding Due to News Trading

Example 1: NFP violation

Trader: Passed $50K Beginner evaluation, $3,200 profit, 6 win days

Review: $2,400 of profit came from single NFP trade (8:30am release, entered 8:31am)

Result: Denied funding. "Your profits were derived primarily from Tier-1 news event trading, which violates evaluation rules."

Outcome: Trader restarted evaluation, avoided news, passed on second attempt.

Example 2: FOMC violation

Trader: Passed evaluation with $3,100 profit

Review: Held ES long position through FOMC (entered 1:45pm, exited 2:10pm)

Result: Denied funding. "You held positions through restricted FOMC window (1:58pm-2:05pm)."

Outcome: Account terminated, no refund, permanent note on account.

Example 3: Multiple CPI violations

Trader: Passed evaluation but traded during 3 separate CPI releases

Review: Pattern of trading 8:30am releases (CPI, NFP, GDP)

Result: Denied funding + permanent ban. "Repeated intentional violations demonstrate attempt to exploit news volatility."

Outcome: Blacklisted from AquaFutures, likely flagged industry-wide.

For breach consequences, see the breach guide.

Strategies to Trade Safely Around News

Strategy 1: Close all positions 10 minutes before Tier-1

Method:

FOMC at 2:00pm → Close all positions by 1:50pm
NFP at 8:30am → Close all positions by 8:20am

Pros: Zero risk of violation

Cons: Miss 10 minutes of potential trading

Best for: Evaluation accounts (play it safe)

Strategy 2: Trade after the 5-minute window

Method:

FOMC at 2:00pm → Wait until 2:05pm, then trade the reaction
NFP at 8:30am → Wait until 8:35am, then trade

Pros: Legal, still capitalize on volatility (post-news drift)

Cons: Miss initial spike (but also avoid highest risk)

Best for: Aggressive evaluation traders who want exposure

Strategy 3: Avoid news days entirely

Method:

Check economic calendar each morning
If Tier-1 news scheduled, don't trade that day

Pros: Absolute safety, focus on non-news days

Cons: Lose 5-10 trading days per month (NFP, FOMC, CPI, etc.)

Best for: Conservative evaluation traders

Strategy 4: Trade only Tier-2/3 news

Method:

Retail Sales, Jobless Claims, PMI = trade normally
FOMC, NFP, CPI = sit out

Pros: Some news exposure, avoid violations

Cons: Tier-2 impact less dramatic (harder to profit quickly)

Best for: News traders who want to stay active during evals

For news event details, see the Tier-1 news guide.

Should You Trade News Once Funded?

Arguments for:

✅ High profit potential: 50-100 point moves = $2,500-$5,000 per trade (6 ES)

✅ Predictable timing: Know exactly when volatility hits

✅ Directional clarity: Markets often trend strongly post-news

Arguments against:

❌ Extreme slippage: 10-50 points slippage during FOMC not uncommon

❌ Unpredictable direction: News can reverse multiple times in seconds

❌ High breach risk: One bad news trade can wipe out weeks of profit

❌ Consistency rule issues: Massive news wins violate 40% rule

Recommendation: Most funded traders avoid Tier-1 news even when allowed. Risk > reward for prop accounts.

If you trade news once funded:

Use 2-3 contracts (not full 6)
Set tight stops (5-10 points max)
Trade the reaction (wait 5-10 minutes after release)
Never hold through release (enter after data drops)

What If You Accidentally Violate?

Scenario: You forgot FOMC was today, held position through 2:00pm.

Step 1: Realize immediately

Check economic calendar as soon as you notice unusual volatility.

Step 2: Close position ASAP

Don't try to profit—just exit.

Step 3: Document and explain

Email AquaFutures support immediately:

"Hello,

I inadvertently held a position through today's FOMC release (2:00pm). I was unaware of the timing and closed the position at 2:03pm as soon as I realized.

Trade details:

Entry: 1:45pm (before FOMC)
Exit: 2:03pm (during restricted window)
P&L: +$150 (minimal profit)

This was unintentional. I've added FOMC to my calendar to prevent future occurrences. I request leniency given this is my first violation and profit was minimal.

Thank you,[Your Name]"

Step 4: Hope for leniency

First-time, small profit violations: Often forgiven with warning

Repeated or large profit violations: Usually denied funding

Best approach: Prevent violations by checking calendar daily.

For support details, see the customer support guide.

How to Check Economic Calendar Daily

Recommended calendars:

Forexfactory.com (most popular, color-coded by impact)
Investing.com/economic-calendar (detailed, filterable)
CMEGroup.com/markets/economic-research (official exchange calendar)
TradingView economic calendar (integrated with charts)

Morning routine:

8:00am: Check calendar for the day

Identify:

Any Tier-1 events (FOMC, NFP, CPI, GDP)
Timing (8:30am, 10:00am, 2:00pm)
Restricted windows (2-5 minutes before/after)

Set alerts:

Phone reminder 15 minutes before event
Close positions 10 minutes before

Example:

"Today is NFP (8:30am). Close all positions by 8:20am. Don't enter until 8:35am."

Final Thoughts: Don't Let News Kill Your Evaluation

Most traders who fail evaluations due to news trading:

Knew the rule existed
Thought "I'll just trade it once"
Made $2,000 on FOMC
Got denied funding during review

Don't be that trader.

During evaluations:

✅ Avoid Tier-1 news completely (close positions 10 minutes early)

✅ Check calendar every morning

✅ Set reminders for major events

✅ Focus on consistent skill (not lottery wins)

Once funded:

✅ You can trade news, but it's still risky

✅ Most successful funded traders avoid Tier-1

✅ If you trade it, use reduced size and tight stops

Simple rule: If you can't pass an evaluation without news trading, you're not ready for prop trading.

Build real skills. Pass clean. Scale sustainably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you trade during news on AquaFutures evaluations?

Tier-1 news (FOMC, NFP, CPI, GDP): Prohibited during evaluations—can't hold positions 2-5 minutes before/after release. Violation = instant termination even if profitable. Tier-2/3 news (Retail Sales, Jobless Claims, minor data): Usually allowed, check policy. Funded accounts: All news trading allowed but risky. Restriction exists to prevent lottery-style gambling on volatility during skill evaluation.

What happens if you trade during FOMC on an evaluation?

Immediate evaluation failure, profits voided, must restart. Even if you made $3,000 profit and met all other requirements, manual review before funding will detect violation and deny funding. First-time accidental violations with minimal profit may get warning, but repeated or intentional violations result in permanent ban. Check economic calendar daily to avoid.

What's the difference between Tier-1 and Tier-2 news?

Tier-1: High-impact events causing 50-100+ point moves in seconds (FOMC, NFP, CPI, GDP, Fed speeches)—prohibited during evaluations. Tier-2: Moderate impact 10-25 points over 5-15 minutes (Retail Sales, PMI, Jobless Claims)—usually allowed. Tier-3: Low impact <10 points (minor data, regional Fed speeches)—always allowed. Distinction matters for compliance.

Can you trade news once you're funded?

Yes—funded accounts typically have no news trading restrictions. However, Tier-1 news remains extremely risky: extreme slippage (10-50 points), unpredictable direction, high breach risk, consistency rule issues (massive wins violate 40% rule). Most successful funded traders avoid Tier-1 entirely or trade with reduced size (2-3 contracts vs 6) and tight stops.

How do prop firms detect news trading violations?

Four methods: (1) Timestamp analysis (cross-reference trades with event times), (2) P&L spikes (unusual profit on news days triggers review), (3) Manual review before funding (compliance checks all Tier-1 event days), (4) Economic calendar cross-reference (automated flagging of trades during restricted windows). Detection is certain—violations always get caught during funding approval process.

What if you accidentally hold through FOMC?

Close position immediately, email support explaining it was unintentional, provide trade details and minimal profit evidence, request leniency. First-time small-profit violations may get warnings, but repeated or large-profit violations denied funding. Best prevention: Check calendar daily, set phone reminders 15 minutes before events, close positions 10 minutes early.

Should you avoid trading on NFP days entirely?

During evaluations: Yes, safest approach—if NFP at 8:30am, many traders don't trade until afternoon or avoid that day completely. Alternatively, trade after 8:35am restriction window. Funded accounts: Can trade NFP but most successful traders wait 10-30 minutes for volatility to normalize or trade with reduced size. Risk > reward for prop accounts.

Which news events are completely safe to trade?

Tier-3 minor events: Regional Fed speeches (non-Powell), Treasury auctions, minor economic indicators, international news (unless major crisis). These have minimal market impact (<10 points) and zero restrictions on evaluations or funded accounts. Also safe: Trading hours before/after Tier-1 events (e.g., trade 10am-1pm when FOMC is 2pm).