Weekend Hold

Also known as: weekend rule, weekend exposure, no weekend hold

Direct Answer

A weekend hold rule controls whether traders can keep positions open through Friday close into Monday open. Many prop firms ban weekend exposure to limit gap risk, requiring all trades to be flat before market close. Holding through the weekend on a no-hold account typically counts as an immediate rule violation and account breach.

Weekend gaps are one of the highest-variance events in retail markets — single trades can blow past stops on the Monday open. Conservative firms eliminate this by requiring flat books at session close.

Newer firms increasingly allow weekend holds because traders demand the flexibility. Check whether the policy applies to challenge, funded, or both stages.

Enforcement

Which firms enforce this rule

FirmStrictness
FTMOStrict
The5%ersStrict
TopstepStrict
Worked Examples

Example scenarios

Scenario
Trader leaves a EUR/USD long open at Friday 22:00 UTC on a no-hold account.

Outcome
Account flagged; trade closed by firm and account breached at next review.

Scenario
Trader closes all positions by 21:55 UTC Friday.

Outcome
No violation; weekend rule satisfied.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What time is 'weekend' defined as?
Usually the broker's Friday close — most firms use 21:55–22:00 UTC for forex.
Does it apply to pending orders?
Many firms also ban pending orders over the weekend to prevent gap fills.
Do crypto markets count?
Crypto trades 24/7 and is usually exempt; the rule mostly targets forex and indices.
Can I hold over normal nights but not weekends?
Yes — overnight holds are typically allowed even when weekend holds are not.
What's the penalty?
Most firms hard-breach the account on the first weekend-hold violation.
See Also