EA news filter: what it does and when you need one
An EA news filter stops new trades for a set number of minutes before and after scheduled economic releases, such as US jobs data or interest-rate decisions, when spreads can widen and price can jump. Scalpers, gold EAs and most prop firm accounts need one: several firms restrict trading for 2 to 5 minutes around high-impact news on funded accounts.
A good EA news filter is simple to describe and easy to get wrong. This guide covers what it does, where it gets its news, the settings that matter, the rules prop firms apply and how to check that an EA’s filter really works.
What a news filter does
Before each new trade, the EA checks a calendar of upcoming releases. If a release that matches its settings falls inside the blocked window, it skips the trade. Depending on how it is built, it can also:
- close open trades or cancel pending orders before the release
- move stops to break-even ahead of the release
- pause trading for the rest of the session after a major release
Many filters only do the first part. Open trades ride through the news unless the EA is set to close or protect them.
Why news is risky for an EA
Around major releases, liquidity thins for a moment. Spreads widen, orders can fill several pips away from the requested price, and price can jump past a stop loss. An EA with a small profit target or a tight stop feels this most: one bad fill can cost several trades’ worth of profit. Gold and index EAs see some of the largest moves.
Where the filter gets its news
- MT5: MetaTrader 5 has an economic calendar built in, and MQL5 lets an EA read its events and filter them by country, currency and importance. The calendar’s times are in the trade server’s time, so they line up with the broker’s clock.
- MT4: MetaTrader 4 has no built-in calendar for EAs, so MT4 filters usually download one from a website. That only works if you add the site’s address under Tools › Options › Expert Advisors › Allow WebRequest for listed URL. If it isn’t allowed, the filter can’t load the calendar and, depending on how it is written, may trade straight through the news.
- Built-in lists: some EAs ship with a fixed list of dates, which goes out of date unless the developer updates it.
Settings that matter
| Setting | What it controls | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Impact level | Which releases count: high only, or high and medium | High at the minimum; scalpers often add medium |
| Currencies | Whose news blocks trading | Both currencies in the pair; for gold (XAUUSD), US releases |
| Minutes before | How early trading stops | Longer than your prop firm’s window, with a margin |
| Minutes after | When trading restarts | Long enough for spreads to settle |
| Open trades | Whether trades are left, closed or protected | On firms that restrict closing during news, close before the window opens |
| Time zone | How event times are matched to the chart | Server time on MT5; check the offset of any downloaded calendar on MT4 |
Prop firm news rules
| Firm | Rule (funded accounts unless stated) |
|---|---|
| FTMO Standard account | No trades opened or closed from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after restricted news |
| The5ers High Stakes | No orders from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after high-impact news |
| E8 One | No opening or closing trades from 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after high-impact news |
| Alpha Capital | No opening or closing trades from 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after listed news |
| FundingPips | Trading news on purpose is prohibited; on Master accounts, profit from trades 5 minutes either side of restricted news is deducted unless the trade opened 5 or more hours earlier |
| FundedNext | You keep 40% of the profit from trades within 5 minutes of high-impact news |
Rules checked 6 November 2026. Each firm decides which events count, so compare its list with your filter’s settings. For the rest of a challenge setup, see how to set up an EA for a prop firm challenge and our prop firm EA rules comparison.
When you need one, and when you don’t
You need one for scalpers and other EAs with small targets, for gold and index EAs, on any prop firm account with a news rule, and on small accounts where one bad fill matters.
It matters less for trend EAs on H4 or daily charts with wide stops, where a news spike is a small part of a trade’s normal range. They still need one on prop firm accounts with news rules.
What a news filter can’t do
- It can’t see unscheduled news, such as surprise central bank statements or political shocks.
- It depends on its calendar: wrong times, a changed schedule or a failed download all break it.
- It only acts on trades it manages: pending orders already placed can still fill unless the EA cancels them.
- It may not work in a backtest. Some filters only read live calendar data, so the Strategy Tester runs as if the filter were off.
How to check an EA’s news filter
- Read the manual for each setting above, and for what happens to open trades and pending orders.
- On MT4, allow the calendar’s address under Allow WebRequest, restart the EA and check the Experts tab for errors.
- Watch it on demo through a scheduled high-impact release, and confirm no trade opened or closed inside the window.
- Look at its backtest: trades opening right on major release times mean the filter isn’t active in the tester. Our MT5 backtesting guide shows how to read the trade list.
EA news filter FAQ
What is a news filter in an EA?
A setting that stops the EA opening trades for a set time around scheduled economic releases. Some EAs also close or protect open trades before the release.
Which news should an EA avoid?
At least the high-impact releases for the currencies it trades. For USD pairs and gold that includes US jobs data, inflation figures and Federal Reserve rate decisions.
How many minutes before and after news should an EA stop?
There is no single right answer. Cover your prop firm’s window (2 or 5 minutes at the firms above) with a margin, and allow longer for scalpers, because spreads can stay wide after the release.
Does a news filter work in the Strategy Tester?
Not always. Some filters only read live calendar data, so the backtest trades through the news. Ask the developer, or check whether the backtest opens trades at major release times.
Do prop firms require a news filter?
They don’t require the filter itself, but several restrict trading around news on funded accounts. A filter is the simplest way for an EA to follow those rules.
Risk warning. Trading forex and CFDs on margin carries a high risk of losing money. A news filter reduces one kind of risk; it can’t stop losses from unscheduled events or normal market moves.
Sources, checked 6 November 2026: MQL5 economic calendar functions; MetaTrader 4 Expert Advisor settings; FTMO news trading; The5ers prohibited practices; E8 Markets news trading; Alpha Capital news trading; FundingPips news and weekend holding; FundedNext news trading.