The CME session runs from 6:00 PM to 5:00 PM New York time (ET), Sunday to Friday. All open positions are closed automatically at 4:45 PM ET, Monday to Friday. Auto close is never a breach.
The daily timeline (New York time)
Time (ET) | What happens |
6:00 PM | The CME session opens and a new trading day starts |
4:45 PM (next day) | Auto close: all open positions are closed at market price |
5:00 PM | The session ends and the trading day ends |
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM | Daily break |
What is a trading day?
For all our rules, a trading day is one CME session: from 6:00 PM ET to 5:00 PM ET the next day. It is not a calendar day.
This matters because several rules are counted by trading day:
The Consistency Rule uses your best trading day.
BrightCore winning days are counted per trading day.
BrightPlus payouts are limited to one approved payout per trading day.
Scenario: one trading day across two calendar dates
Example: you open a trade at 7:00 PM ET on Monday and you close another trade at 3:00 PM ET on Tuesday.
👉 Both trades belong to the same trading day, because they fall inside the same session.
Auto close at 4:45 PM ET
It applies to every account, in the Evaluation and in SIM Funded.
It runs Monday to Friday.
All open positions are closed at market price.
You cannot hold positions overnight or over the weekend. Every trade lives inside one session.
✅ Auto close is never a breach.
⚠️ Plan ahead: if you want to keep a position, you cannot. Close your trades yourself before 4:45 PM ET if you prefer to choose your own exit price.
Holidays
On some holidays CME closes earlier. We announce the earlier cut-off to traders in advance.
Rule Summary
Trading day: 6:00 PM ET to 5:00 PM ET the next day
Auto close: 4:45 PM ET, Monday to Friday
Holding overnight or over the weekend: not possible
Auto close as a breach: never
Frequently asked questions
Can I trade on Sunday?
Yes. The CME session opens on Sunday at 6:00 PM ET.
Can I hold a trade overnight?
No. Everything closes at 4:45 PM ET. Read Can I hold trades overnight or on weekends?
Does auto close count against me?
No. It is never a breach.
Why does my trading day not match the calendar date?
Because a trading day starts at 6:00 PM ET and ends at 5:00 PM ET the next day.
Where to go next
Can I hold trades overnight or on weekends?