A broker downtime calendar: plan flat hours in advance

[FXS London Scalper]

Brokers do maintenance, server migrations and platform upgrades. Each one is announced, usually by email, sometimes only on a website banner. Most traders don't track them systematically.

A simple process:

1. Create a separate calendar (Google, Outlook, anything) called "Broker downtime".
2. Each time a notice arrives, add the window with a 30-minute buffer either side.
3. Include holidays where the broker has modified hours: Christmas, New Year, Easter, US Thanksgiving.
4. Overlay it on your trading calendar.

Why bother?
- Positions held into maintenance may not be manageable.
- The minutes after a restart often have unusual spreads and rejects.
- Holiday sessions with modified hours catch people every year.

Some brokers publish a holiday trading schedule in November or December covering the whole festive period. Worth adding all of it as soon as it appears.

Does your broker give enough notice for maintenance? Any that have done surprise downtime during London hours?