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Quick answer: During evaluation, you can trade freely through news on Alpha Capital plans. After you become a Qualified Analyst, Pro / One / Three / Direct use a 5-minute either-side news window (no opening or closing trades on targeted instruments). Swing allows news trading, but a trade opened within 2 minutes either side of a release must last more than 2 minutes. Overnight holds are allowed on all plans (swap applies). Weekend holds are allowed on Swing, One, and Three at all stages. On Alpha Pro Qualified Accounts, weekend holds are not allowed (soft breach).
Published: May 20, 2026
Last updated: July 30, 2026
This page was updated on July 30, 2026 for full alignment with the live help-centre news-trading article: Swing's 2-minute rule, the soft-breach clarification for stops and take-profits filled inside the window, speech and conference duration guidance, and a summary of the restricted-instrument table.
Always confirm live rules on help.alphacapitalgroup.uk before you trade.
The short answer
News trading
- Evaluation phases: unrestricted news trading on Pro, One, Three, Direct, and Swing (per the news help article).
- Qualified Analyst: Pro (6% / 8% / 10%), One, Three, and Direct = 5 minutes either side (no open or close on targeted instruments in that 10-minute window). Swing = if you open inside a 4-minute window, the trade must last more than 2 minutes.
Overnight holds
- Allowed on all plans. You pay or receive swap on positions held overnight.
Weekend holds
- Swing / One / Three: allowed at all stages.
- Pro: allowed in Phase 1 and Phase 2. Not allowed on the Qualified Analyst Account (soft breach).
For the exact wording on your account, verify on the help centre before trading.
Why news rules exist
High-impact releases can widen spreads and increase slippage. Firms use short windows on Qualified Accounts to reduce the chance of a single news spike wiping a simulated account. That is risk management, not a blanket ban on news trading.
Evaluation vs Qualified Analyst (read this first)
| Stage | News rule |
|---|---|
| Evaluation (all phases) | Trade freely during news releases |
| Qualified Analyst - Pro / One / Three / Direct | No open or close 5 minutes before or after listed high-impact news |
| Qualified Analyst - Swing | News trading allowed. If a trade is opened within 2 minutes before or up to 2 minutes after a release (4-minute window), duration must exceed 2 minutes. Gambling rules also apply. |
Help centre source: Can I trade news?
News rules by plan (Qualified Analyst)
Alpha Swing
News trading is allowed. If a trade is initiated within 2 minutes before or up to 2 minutes after a news release (a 4-minute window), its duration must exceed 2 minutes for the trade to be valid. Swing accounts are also subject to gambling rules. Do not use short speculative news scalps.
Alpha One
On the Qualified Analyst account, you cannot open or close on the targeted instrument from 5 minutes before until 5 minutes after a listed high-impact release (10-minute total window). During evaluation, news trading is unrestricted.
Weekend holds are allowed in Phase 1 and on the Qualified Analyst Account.
Alpha Pro
On the Qualified Analyst account, all Pro variants (6% / 8% / 10%) use the same rule: 5 minutes either side (open or close banned in that window).
During evaluation (Phase 1 and Phase 2), news trading is unrestricted.
Weekend holds are allowed in Phase 1 and Phase 2. Weekend holds are not allowed on the Pro Qualified Analyst Account. Breach is a soft breach: profits from those trades are removed; the account can stay active if the updated balance stays above max drawdown.
Alpha Three
On the Qualified Analyst account, the window is 5 minutes either side (open or close banned). During evaluation (Phases 1, 2, and 3), news trading is unrestricted. Weekend holds are allowed at all stages.
Alpha Direct
On the Qualified Analyst account, Direct uses the same 5 minutes either side window as Pro / One / Three (no open or close on targeted instruments). Confirm the live Direct article on the help centre for any product-specific notes.
What counts as a high-impact event?
Use Alpha's published instrument and announcement table in the help centre. Calendars used for impact checks:
What matters: the release is listed in Alpha's table and is high-impact on at least one of those calendars. One calendar may mark an event orange while another marks it red.
Which instruments are restricted?
The help centre publishes a full instrument-by-announcement table. In summary:
- All instruments are restricted around three US events: USD CPI (Inflation Rate), Federal Funds Rate decisions and statements (including the press conference), and Non-Farm Employment Change (NFP).
- Gold and silver (XAUUSD / XAGUSD, pro and raw) carry a much broader list: all USD, AUD, and CAD high-impact news and speeches, all EUR and GBP high-impact speeches, plus interest-rate decisions, CPI, GDP, PCE, PMI, and employment / unemployment figures across all currencies.
- Currency pairs, indices, and oil (USOIL / UKOIL) are restricted per currency: high-impact USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, CHF, and JPY events target the instruments that contain or track those currencies.
The help centre table is the source of truth. Check it before you trade.
Speeches and conferences: treat the no-trade window as covering the entire duration. Example: do not trade from 5 minutes before the speech starts, during the speech or conference itself, or until 5 minutes after it ends (Pro / One / Three / Direct).
Opening, closing, and holding through news
On Qualified Analyst Pro / One / Three / Direct accounts:
- Executing a trade means opening or closing, whether by market execution or by pending order, including stop-loss and take-profit.
- You may hold a position through the news, provided it was opened more than 5 minutes before the restricted event.
- If a Stop Gain (a stop-loss adjusted into profit) or Take Profit is triggered or filled inside the window, that counts as a violation. It is classified as a soft breach: any profits earned are not eligible for a performance fee.
- Losses incurred during news trading remain your responsibility and are not removed.
Separately, trades that contravene standards by achieving unrealistic fills during high-impact news may be invalidated. This does not jeopardise the account's status.
Overnight holds
Yes. Overnight holding is allowed on all plans. You pay or receive swap (rollover / overnight interest) on positions held overnight.
There is no separate overnight ban on Alpha Pro Qualified Accounts. The restriction that trips traders is weekend holding, not weekday overnight.
Help centre source: Can I hold trades overnight?
Weekend holds
| Plan | Evaluation | Qualified Analyst |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Swing | Allowed (Phase 1/2) | Allowed |
| Alpha One | Allowed (Phase 1) | Allowed |
| Alpha Three | Allowed (Phases 1/2/3) | Allowed |
| Alpha Pro | Allowed (Phase 1 and Phase 2) | Not allowed (soft breach) |
Weekend holds can incur swap fees.
Help centre source: Can I hold trades over the weekend?
If your strategy needs weekend holds on the Qualified Account stage, use Swing, One, or Three. Do not use Alpha Pro for that.
Practical advice
- Mark red / high-impact events on Myfxbook and Forex Factory every week. Cross-check Alpha's instrument table.
- Know your stage. Evaluation = free news. Qualified = window rules.
- Know your plan rule (5-minute either-side window vs Swing duration rule).
- On Qualified Pro / One / Three / Direct, manage SL/TP so they do not fill inside the window.
- Do not test the edge of the clock. If the rule says 5 minutes, give yourself more buffer.
- Overnight is fine on all plans. Close Pro Qualified positions before the weekend.
FAQs
Can you trade news on Alpha Capital?
Yes. During evaluation, news trading is unrestricted. On Qualified Analyst accounts, short windows apply by plan. It is not a blanket ban.
Do news windows apply during the evaluation?
No. Help centre: during evaluation phases you can trade freely during all news releases. Windows apply after you become a Qualified Analyst (with Swing's duration rule on that plan).
Can you hold trades overnight?
Yes. Overnight holding is allowed on all plans. Swap applies. See the weekend rule separately.
Can you hold positions over the weekend?
Swing, One, and Three: yes at all stages. Alpha Pro: yes in Phase 1 and Phase 2; no on the Qualified Analyst Account (soft breach).
What is the Alpha Swing news rule?
If a trade is opened within 2 minutes before or up to 2 minutes after a release (4-minute window), it must last more than 2 minutes to be valid. Gambling rules also apply.
Is Alpha Swing the only plan that allows weekend holds after qualification?
No. Alpha One and Alpha Three also allow weekend holds on the Qualified Analyst Account. Alpha Pro does not.
Which calendars does Alpha use?
Myfxbook and Forex Factory. An event must be in Alpha's published table and high-impact on at least one of those calendars.
Which instruments are restricted during news windows?
All instruments are restricted around USD CPI, Federal Funds Rate decisions, and Non-Farm Employment Change. Gold and silver carry a much broader list, and currency pairs, indices, and oil are restricted per currency. Check the help centre table before trading.
Ready to pick a plan that matches how you hold?
- Need weekend holds after qualification: Alpha Swing, Alpha One, or Alpha Three
- Prefer Pro's structure: close before the weekend on the Qualified Account
Start your Alpha Capital evaluation
Alpha Capital Group is a proprietary trading firm based in the United Kingdom. All accounts operate in a simulated trading environment with simulated funds unless a specific product states otherwise. Performance fees are based on eligible simulated trading results and outcomes are not guaranteed. Always confirm live rules, pricing, eligibility, and evaluation requirements on alphacapitalgroup.uk and help.alphacapitalgroup.uk before purchasing an evaluation.
