How to read prop firm rules before you pay

Most failed evaluations are not caused by losing trades but by breaking a rule the trader never noticed.

The rules that matter most

1. News trading: some firms prohibit opening trades minutes before high-impact releases.
2. Weekend holding: positions may be force-closed on Friday.
3. EAs and copy trading: often restricted to your own strategies.
4. Consistency rules: a single day may not exceed a share of total profit.

Restricted is not prohibited

On PropDiff every rule is stored as allowed, restricted, prohibited or unknown. Restricted means the activity is permitted with conditions; hover the badge to see the note, then open the source link. MeridianFX and Kestrel Prop, for example, both list news trading with conditions.

Checklist

• Read the official FAQ, not just the landing page.
• Screenshot the rules on the day you buy.
• Check the changes log for recent edits.