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What is the Maximum Daily Loss?
What is the Maximum Daily Loss?

Understanding the Max Daily Loss, also known as the Max Daily Drawdown.

Lars avatar
Written by Lars
Updated over 2 weeks ago

How to Calculate Your Max Daily Loss

Every trader has a daily loss limit, also known as a daily drawdown. At 5pm EST each day, we calculate your daily loss limit by taking the higher value of your account balance or account equity and subtracting:

  • 4% from the initial capital for Flash Accounts.

  • 5% from the initial capital for Pro Accounts.

This gives you the maximum equity your account can lose for the next trading day.


Example 1 (Pro Account):

  • Initial Account Balance: $100,000

  • Open Trade with Floating Profit: $5,000

  • Account Equity at 5pm EST: $105,000

  • Daily Drawdown Limit: Your equity cannot drop below $100,000 ($105,000 - $5,000).


Example 2 (Pro Account):

  • Initial Account Balance: $100,000

  • Open Trade with Floating Loss: $1,000

  • Account Equity at 5pm EST: $99,000

  • Daily Drawdown Limit: Calculated based on your balance of $100,000, so your equity cannot drop below $95,000 ($100,000 - $5,000).


Example 3 (Pro Account):

  • Initial account Balance: $100,000

  • No Open Trades at 5pm EST: The daily drawdown is 5% ($5000) of your closed balance.

  • Account balance and equity at 5pm EST: $105,000

  • Daily Drawdown Limit: Calculated based on your balance of $105,000, so your equity cannot drop below $100,000 ($105,000 - $5,000).


Example 1 (Flash Account):

  • Initial Account Balance: $100,000

  • Open Trade with Floating Profit: $4,000

  • Account Equity at 5pm EST: $104,000

  • Daily Drawdown Limit: Your equity cannot drop below $100,000 ($104,000 - $4,000).


Example 2 (Flash Account):

  • Initial Account Balance: $100,000

  • Open Trade with Floating Loss: $1,000

  • Account Equity at 5pm EST: $99,000

  • Daily Drawdown Limit: Calculated based on your balance of $100,000, so your equity cannot drop below $96,000 ($100,000 - $4,000).


Example 3 (Flash Account):

  • Initial account Balance: $100,000

  • No Open Trades at 5pm EST: The daily drawdown is 4% ($4000) of your closed balance.

  • Account balance and equity at 5pm EST: $105,000

  • Daily Drawdown Limit: Calculated based on your balance of $105,000, so your equity cannot drop below $101,000 ($105,000 - $4,000).


Important Notes:

  • The daily loss limit includes commissions and swaps.

  • Exceeding your daily loss limit will result in account closure and forfeiture of any gains.

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