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Why latency & session timing matter
Markets trade almost 24/5, but liquidity is uneven. The London–New York overlap typically delivers tighter spreads and steadier fills, while daily rollover and thin parts of Asia often increase slippage. If you scalp or manage tight stops, your ping to servers and session choice will shape P&L variance.
Your three clocks (sync them weekly)
1) Platform time
Check MT5 platform time and what FTMO’s trading updates use (often CE(S)T/GMT+3). Keep a sticky note: “Platform = ___; Local = ___.”
2) Local time
Set calendar alerts 15–30 minutes before your target session opens/closes. Add daylight-saving reminders for both regions if needed.
3) Exchange/session time
Indices and commodities have specific windows and daily breaks. Confirm exact instrument hours inside MT5 each week.
Bonus: Maintenance windows
Weekend/platform maintenance happens periodically. Don’t leave fragile orders live; refresh symbol specs & hours weekly.
Latency: measure, decide, improve
Measure
- Check MT5 ping in the status bar (and at several points each session).
- Compare order timestamp vs fill time; log slippage by hour and setup type.
- Benchmark across London open, NY open, overlap, and rollover.
What counts as “good enough”?
| Round-trip ping | Execution style | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| < 50 ms | Scalping / fast intraday | Excellent. You can run tighter stops, but still size conservatively near news. |
| 50–120 ms | Most intraday / swing | Good. Focus on liquid overlaps; avoid micro-scalps into rollover. |
| 120–150 ms | Swing / position | Acceptable with wider stops; evaluate a VPS if you scalp occasionally. |
| > 150 ms | Any | Consider a VPS near servers, or trade only the most liquid hours. |
Improve
- Trade during liquid windows (London–NY overlap) where spreads tighten.
- Avoid starting new scalps into daily rollover; slippage risk rises.
- Wired Ethernet over Wi-Fi when possible; close sync/backup apps during sessions.
- Keep your charting workspace lean; heavy indicators can add platform lag.
Do you need a VPS?
Use a VPS when you must be online 24/5 (EAs), scalp session opens, travel frequently, or your home ping is unstable. Place the VPS where MT5 shows the lowest ping to servers, then re-benchmark execution and slippage before committing.
VPS checklist
- Latency improvement ≥ 30–50 ms (or reduced jitter) vs home.
- Uptime SLAs, fast disk, and enough RAM/cores for multiple terminals.
- 2FA, isolated user, and basic hardening (firewall, updates).
- Backups for workspaces, templates, and logs/screenshots.
Session hours & overlaps (plan around liquidity)
| Window | Focus instruments | Why it works | Execution notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Open | EUR, GBP majors; EU indices | Fresh order flow; liquidity building | Allow 10–20 mins for spreads to normalize before sizing up |
| London–NY Overlap | EURUSD, GBPUSD, XAUUSD; US indices | Highest liquidity; tighter spreads | Great for break-and-retest structures with pending orders |
| NY Cash Open | US100/US500/US30; USD pairs | Strong participation; volatility spikes | Start smaller for 15–20 mins; watch slippage on market stops |
| Asia Session | JPY, AUD, NZD pairs | Calmer flow (except events) | Reduce size; avoid tight stops on thin pairs |
| Daily Rollover | All | Spread widening; liquidity handover | Avoid new scalps; don’t park tight SLs near the switch |
Pro tip: For order-handling rules (netting, FIFO, one SL/TP), see MT5 Risk Controls for FTMO US.
Execution playbooks (copy-ready)
Playbook A — NY cash open (indices)
- Arrive 30–45 minutes early. Map HTF levels, prior day’s H/L, and premarket zones.
- Run a small scout position only after confirmation. Add after the first 5–15 minutes once spreads stabilize.
- Bracket orders (SL/TP) on entry; trail with structure, not ticks.
Playbook B — London–NY overlap (EURUSD/XAUUSD)
- Place pending orders at your pre-marked zones; avoid chasing.
- Log slippage on each fill; calibrate size if slippage increases.
- Scale out systematically: 1R partial, then trail behind swing structure.
Playbook C — Asia session (JPY crosses)
- Prefer mean-reversion or range breaks with clear structure.
- Smaller size; wider initial stops to fit lower liquidity conditions.
- Stand aside during very thin holiday weeks.
Integrate MDL/ML into the timing plan
FTMO US uses a Maximum Daily Loss (MDL) of 5% and a Maximum Loss (ML) of 10% of starting balance. Treat timing and latency as risk multipliers:
- Daily Trading Risk (DTR): cap at ~40–60% of MDL so a bad session doesn’t end your day.
- News mode: cut size by ~50% (or stand aside) unless you have a tested news edge.
- Rollover mode: no new scalps; flatten fragile positions 10–15 minutes before the switch.
When you’re ready to structure a full pass plan, read How to Pass the FTMO US Challenge.
News & rollover discipline
- Mark economic releases (CPI, NFP, FOMC, PMIs) and earnings proxies for indices.
- Shift to limit orders if spreads blow out; avoid market stops into spikes.
- Before weekends, remove resting orders and re-check Monday open times.
Monitoring & logging (your edge in data)
- Latency sheet: log ping every 30–60 minutes during your session for a week.
- Slippage tracker: expected vs actual fill; tag session, symbol, and order type.
- Session score: A/B/C rating for preparation, execution, and discipline.
- Weekly review: identify the hour with best expectancy and prioritize it.
FAQs — Latency, VPS, and Session Hours
What latency is considered “good” for FTMO US?
Under ~50 ms is excellent for scalps; 50–120 ms works for most intraday; above 150 ms consider a VPS or limit yourself to liquid overlaps.
How do I test whether a VPS helps?
Spin up a VPS near the servers, connect MT5, and compare ping and slippage across the same sessions for a few days. Keep the better setup.
How do I avoid surprises at rollover?
Avoid opening fresh scalps 10–15 minutes before the switch; re-check symbol hours and planned maintenance each week.
Which session is best for EURUSD?
Typically London–NY overlap for liquidity and tighter spreads. Track your own stats to confirm.
Does FTMO US allow hedging?
No. MT5 on FTMO US is netting/FIFO with no hedging. Manage one net position per symbol with a single SL/TP. Learn more in MT5 Risk Controls for FTMO US.
Where can I learn the rules for passing?
Start with How to Pass the FTMO US Challenge and keep your daily risk capped to protect MDL.
FTMO US provides a simulated trading environment and educational tools. Rewards are based on simulated profits as described by FTMO US. Trading involves risk.
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