Blog

Market insights, trading education, and Alpha Capital updates.

May 12, 2026 3 min

What is Slippage in Forex?

Slippage is the difference between the expected price of a trade and the price at which the trade is actually executed. It primarily occurs during periods of high volatility (like major news releases) or low liquidity (like market rollovers) when prices change faster than orders can be filled. To protect their accounts during evaluations (frequently known as prop firm challenges) and ensure consistent performance fees (or payouts), professional traders manage slippage by avoiding high-impact news and adjusting their stop-loss placements.

Guides

May 12, 2026 3 min

What is Macroeconomic Trading?

Macroeconomic trading focuses on analyzing large-scale economic indicators, such as interest rates, inflation, and GDP, to predict broad market trends. Central bank policies and geopolitical events are the primary catalysts that macro traders monitor to determine the fundamental strength or weakness of a currency. Combining macro awareness with technical execution helps traders survive rigorous evaluations (often called prop firm challenges) and achieve consistent performance fees (commonly referred to as payouts).

Guides

May 12, 2026 3 min

What is the Non-Farm Payroll (NFP)?

The Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) is a monthly US employment report that is a primary driver of volatility in the forex and futures markets. NFP results dictate the strength of the US Dollar; strong data generally boosts the USD, while weak data weakens it. The extreme volatility during NFP can easily breach risk parameters on evaluations (often referred to as prop firm challenges). Professional traders prioritize protecting their capital and waiting for the volatility to settle before executing trades to secure their performance fees (payouts).

Guides

May 11, 2026 3 min

What is Scaling In and Scaling Out?

Entering a position in smaller fractions to confirm the market is moving in your favor before committing full risk. Closing portions of a winning trade at specific targets to lock in guaranteed profit while letting the rest run. Using these methods during an evaluation (or prop firm challenge) dramatically reduces emotional stress and protects your simulated capital from sudden market reversals.

Guides

May 11, 2026 3 min

What is a Break of Structure (BOS)?

A Break of Structure (BOS) occurs when the price clearly closes past a previous significant high or low, confirming trend continuation. A valid BOS requires a full candle body close; a simple wick past the level is often just a trap. Waiting for structural breaks prevents traders from guessing tops and bottoms, providing the disciplined edge required to earn a performance fee (commonly known as a payout or profit split).

Guides

May 11, 2026 2 min

What is a Liquidity Sweep?

A liquidity sweep is a sudden market move that breaches clear support or resistance levels to trigger stop-losses before reversing. It traps breakout traders and stops out early entrants, allowing smart money to collect the orders needed to move the market. Waiting for a sweep before entering a trade helps protect your simulated funds and keeps you on the right side of the market when managing a qualified account (often called a funded account).

Guides

May 11, 2026 2 min

What is a Fair Value Gap (FVG)?

A Fair Value Gap (FVG) is a market inefficiency created by rapid price movement that leaves a three-candle gap in liquidity.The market acts like a magnet, often returning to these gaps to rebalance orders, providing traders with high-probability entry points. Utilizing FVGs helps traders maintain tight risk management during an evaluation (often referred to as a prop firm challenge), increasing the odds of becoming a Qualified Analyst.

Guides

May 9, 2026 2 min

What are Simulated Funds?

Simulated funds are virtual capital provided by a prop firm that allows a trader to execute trades without risking personal money. The simulated platform replicates live market conditions, including real-time spreads, commissions, and slippage. While officially known as simulated funds, the retail trading community commonly refers to this as trading on a demo account.

Guides

May 9, 2026 3 min

What is a Trailing Drawdown vs. Static Drawdown?

A loss limit that moves up as your account balance grows, locking in your risk parameters to protect recent profits. A fixed loss limit based on your initial starting balance that never moves, providing more breathing room as you generate profit. Choosing the right drawdown model during your evaluation (or prop firm challenge) is crucial for matching your specific trading style and risk tolerance.

Guides

May 9, 2026 2 min

What is a Performance Fee?

A performance fee is the compensation paid to a Qualified Trader based on the profits they generate in a simulated account. Traders generally keep a massive majority of their simulated profits, often ranging from an 80% to 90% split. While officially known as a performance fee, retail traders often refer to these regular compensations as payouts or profit splits.

Guides

May 9, 2026 2 min

What is a Qualified Trader?

A Qualified Trader is someone who has passed a prop firm evaluation and is approved to manage simulated funds. They are eligible to earn a performance fee (usually 80% to 90%) based on the simulated profits they generate. Becoming qualified (often called being a "funded trader" by the community) requires strict, ongoing adherence to daily and maximum drawdown limits to keep the account active.

Guides

May 9, 2026 2 min

What is a Trading Evaluation?

A trading evaluation is a test of a trader's skill and risk management in a simulated environment. Traders must reach specific profit targets while strictly adhering to maximum and daily loss limits. Successfully passing the evaluation (often referred to by traders as a prop firm challenge) is the required gateway to becoming a Qualified Analyst and earning performance fees.

Announcement

May 7, 2026 4 min

Alpha Futures Launches the Premium Plan

As part of the Alpha Group, Alpha Futures has just launched the Premium Tier, designed for professionals who have outgrown standard evaluations. With larger withdrawal caps (up to $6,000 per cycle), a flat $149 one-time activation fee, up to 5 concurrent accounts, and a Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) that does not slide to $0 at your first payout, Premium gives you the runway to actually compound your success.

What is Slippage in Forex?

What is Macroeconomic Trading?

What is the Non-Farm Payroll (NFP)?

What is Scaling In and Scaling Out?

What is a Break of Structure (BOS)?

What is a Liquidity Sweep?

What is a Fair Value Gap (FVG)?

What are Simulated Funds?

What is a Trailing Drawdown vs. Static Drawdown?

What is a Performance Fee?

What is a Qualified Trader?

What is a Trading Evaluation?

Alpha Futures Launches the Premium Plan

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