Pre-London dead zone: flat everything, or leave runners?
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2026 8:59 am
Asian session into London open is where a lot of "I was fine until 8am" stories start.
My default for years: **flat into 07:50 UK** unless it's a rare swing position with a wide stop that isn't a scalp. Scalp leftovers into the open is how you donate the overnight P&L back plus commission.
Why I go flat:
- Spread widening into open can turn a small runner into a "why is my stop so far" moment.
- London open liquidity often raids obvious overnight highs/lows first. Your runner is often that liquidity.
- Mentally I'm clearer starting the session at zero than defending a position while also hunting new entries.
When I *don't* flat:
- Strong HTF thesis, stop already beyond a level I respect, and I'm willing to not trade the open at all (one job: manage the runner).
- Prop accounts where overnight rules/swap/consistency make the decision different — separate thread material.
I also kill pending orders that would trigger into the first 10 minutes unless they were placed *for* the open on purpose. Forgotten buy stops from Asia are comedy gold (for the market, not for you).
Curious how others handle this without turning it into religion.
Flat into London open as policy, or case-by-case?
If you leave runners, do you widen stops or just accept open volatility?
Anyone automate "close all scalp positions at 07:45" on MT5/cTrader?
My default for years: **flat into 07:50 UK** unless it's a rare swing position with a wide stop that isn't a scalp. Scalp leftovers into the open is how you donate the overnight P&L back plus commission.
Why I go flat:
- Spread widening into open can turn a small runner into a "why is my stop so far" moment.
- London open liquidity often raids obvious overnight highs/lows first. Your runner is often that liquidity.
- Mentally I'm clearer starting the session at zero than defending a position while also hunting new entries.
When I *don't* flat:
- Strong HTF thesis, stop already beyond a level I respect, and I'm willing to not trade the open at all (one job: manage the runner).
- Prop accounts where overnight rules/swap/consistency make the decision different — separate thread material.
I also kill pending orders that would trigger into the first 10 minutes unless they were placed *for* the open on purpose. Forgotten buy stops from Asia are comedy gold (for the market, not for you).
Curious how others handle this without turning it into religion.
Flat into London open as policy, or case-by-case?
If you leave runners, do you widen stops or just accept open volatility?
Anyone automate "close all scalp positions at 07:45" on MT5/cTrader?