# Flatten before news you cannot size

Before binary / high-impact news you have no written edge for (FOMC, Clarity-style crypto bills, earnings you don’t trade), default flatten or cut size — do not hold overnight leverage into unknown catalysts. Pair with no-overnight-margin-without-go, empty-sleeve-overnight, kill-switch-before-travel, cap-daily-loss-before-session, session-time-box. Agent Lane does not place trades, hold wallets, invent broker UI, or publish event calendars.

Canonical HTML: https://agentlane.net/guides/flatten-before-news-unknown/

## Answer first

Before a known binary or high-impact event you cannot size on the named plan: check open risk in the official venue UI. Default flatten or cut size — especially overnight leverage. Confirm cancel or flat in the broker, not chat. Then empty or park the sleeve if the session ends.

## Unknown catalysts in plain terms

- **News you cannot size** — binary / high-impact catalyst with no written edge on the named plan.
- **Examples (illustrative, not a calendar)** — FOMC, Clarity-style crypto bills, earnings you don’t trade.
- **Default** — flatten or cut before the news window; no overnight leverage into the unknown.
- **GO hold** — written exception (size, why, kill plan). Hope is not a GO.

## Why holding into unknown catalysts is the failure mode

- **Size rules need a thesis** — [size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md](./size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md), [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md).
- **Review only works while someone watches** — [never-skip-review-before-place.md](./never-skip-review-before-place.md), [no-overnight-margin-without-go.md](./no-overnight-margin-without-go.md).
- **Cash empty ≠ position flat** — [empty-sleeve-overnight.md](./empty-sleeve-overnight.md).
- **Chat “fine into FOMC” is not settlement** — [confirm-cancel-in-broker-not-chat.md](./confirm-cancel-in-broker-not-chat.md), [session-time-box.md](./session-time-box.md).

## Different from overnight margin / empty sleeve / kill switch / time-box

- [no-overnight-margin-without-go.md](./no-overnight-margin-without-go.md) — overnight leveraged-exposure rule (default flatten unless GO).
- [empty-sleeve-overnight.md](./empty-sleeve-overnight.md) — park spendable cash.
- [kill-switch-before-travel.md](./kill-switch-before-travel.md) — travel/offline composite.
- [session-time-box.md](./session-time-box.md) — clock for the live window.
- [cap-daily-loss-before-session.md](./cap-daily-loss-before-session.md) — loss stop.
- This page — catalyst rule: flatten or cut before news you cannot size.

Use the stack.

## Shield stack

1. [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md) — catalysts you cannot size on the plan.
2. [cap-daily-loss-before-session.md](./cap-daily-loss-before-session.md).
3. [session-time-box.md](./session-time-box.md).
4. [no-overnight-margin-without-go.md](./no-overnight-margin-without-go.md).
5. Flatten before news you cannot size (this page).
6. [empty-sleeve-overnight.md](./empty-sleeve-overnight.md).
7. [kill-switch-before-travel.md](./kill-switch-before-travel.md).

## How to run flatten before news you cannot size

1. Name catalysts you cannot size — [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md); no invented calendar.
2. Default flatten/cut before the event unless written GO — [no-overnight-margin-without-go.md](./no-overnight-margin-without-go.md).
3. Confirm opens and flat in venue UI — [confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md](./confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md), [confirm-cancel-in-broker-not-chat.md](./confirm-cancel-in-broker-not-chat.md).
4. Pair empty sleeve, time-box, loss cap — [empty-sleeve-overnight.md](./empty-sleeve-overnight.md), [session-time-box.md](./session-time-box.md), [cap-daily-loss-before-session.md](./cap-daily-loss-before-session.md).
5. Travel/offline → [kill-switch-before-travel.md](./kill-switch-before-travel.md).
6. Journal any hold-through GO — [journal-every-override.md](./journal-every-override.md); close: [log-session-end-checklist.md](./log-session-end-checklist.md).

## Practical checklist

- Catalysts you cannot size written (default: flatten/cut).
- No invented calendar or broker news UI.
- Venue UI checked for open risk before the news window — not chat.
- Flatten or cut confirmed in broker before the print (unless GO).
- Overnight leverage not left into unknown catalysts.
- Sleeve emptied/parked if session ends; time-box and loss cap honored.
- Travel: kill switch; any hold-through GO journaled.
- Official paths only — no invented broker UI.

Related: [Write invalidation before entry](./write-invalidation-before-entry.md), [no-overnight-margin-without-go.md](./no-overnight-margin-without-go.md), [empty-sleeve-overnight.md](./empty-sleeve-overnight.md), [kill-switch-before-travel.md](./kill-switch-before-travel.md), [cap-daily-loss-before-session.md](./cap-daily-loss-before-session.md), [session-time-box.md](./session-time-box.md), [confirm-cancel-in-broker-not-chat.md](./confirm-cancel-in-broker-not-chat.md), [confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md](./confirm-fills-in-broker-not-chat.md), [log-session-end-checklist.md](./log-session-end-checklist.md), [journal-every-override.md](./journal-every-override.md), [name-the-strategy-before-connect.md](./name-the-strategy-before-connect.md), [size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md](./size-from-sleeve-not-from-hope.md), [shield-brokerage.md](./shield-brokerage.md), [shield-crypto.md](./shield-crypto.md).

## FAQ

**What does flatten before news you cannot size mean?**
Before binary / high-impact news you have no written edge for, default flatten or cut size — do not hold overnight leverage into unknown catalysts. Pair with no-overnight-margin-without-go, empty-sleeve-overnight, kill-switch-before-travel, cap-daily-loss-before-session, session-time-box.

**Do I invent a broker news-flatten UI or event calendar?**
No. Official venue screens and your written flatten/cut rule. Agent Lane does not invent UI or publish calendars.

**Does this replace no overnight margin without GO?**
No. Overnight margin rule, catalyst flatten, cash park, travel kill, clock, and loss stop are different brakes. You need the stack.

## Sources

- Canonical HTML: https://agentlane.net/guides/flatten-before-news-unknown/
- Related shelf: https://agentlane.net/resources/
- Site index: https://agentlane.net/llms.txt

Agent Lane publishes checklists. We do not place trades, hold wallets, invent broker UI, publish event calendars, or GO hold-through for you.