alerts: require a trade setup, log every send, drop stale spread-gate vetoes, daily log rotation

Delivery-side fixes from the 2026-09-08 three-day signal-log + telegram-log
review. Nothing in the signal core changes: the 3-year H1 and M15 books at
$0.65 were regenerated before/after and are identical on every trade column
(H1 253 / +70.02R / PF 1.98, M15 1092 / +151.90R / PF 1.38); only the
exported `warnings` text differs, on 50/253 H1 and 358/1092 M15 trades.

- signal_aggregator: step 7 moves into `_attach_core_setup`; a final pass
  after the PB/CP archetypes (`_drop_stale_spread_gate_vetoes`) moves a core
  generator's "SPREAD GATE: ... costs would eat the edge" veto to
  `cleaned_warnings` whenever a later generator shipped a setup. The
  2026-09-08 07:45 UTC A-grade alert carried that line beside a $26.49 TP1;
  a fifth of H1 and a third of M15 A-grade alerts had been doing the same.
  The prefix is now the `_SPREAD_GATE_PREFIX` constant shared by both
  emitters and both cleanups.
- telegram_bot: alerts require a trade setup (`_is_alert_candidate`, shared
  by the scan and breach paths; no-setup candidates log
  `alert skipped: ... (gate reason)`). The 07:50 UTC B-grade SELL with no
  setup had gone out under the same warning.
- telegram_bot: every delivered alert / breach alert / violent-move heads-up
  logs an `... sent:` INFO line with the signal-log row id (only failures
  were logged before, so the review had to reconstruct sends from panel
  rows). Send fan-out is one `_broadcast` helper for both paths.
- telegram_bot: `telegram.log` rotates daily x 30 instead of 3-hourly x 240
  (old `_HH` files on the live box need one manual delete).
- signal_log / CLAUDE.md: `cleaned_warnings_json` is no longer a CP-only
  marker; docs say so.
- test_all: 468 tests (+2): stale-veto cleanup incl. the PB-shaped case and
  the both-vetoed case, and the alert-candidate rule with its skip line; the
  rotation test asserts MIDNIGHT / interval 86400 / 30 backups.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5.1 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_018xY4NPPrx6NJoG6QWHzwpd

deploy/README-dashboard.md

@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@ tail -f logs/dashboard.log
 
 The daemon scans all four timeframes at boot, then wakes at every M5
 boundary (+10 s) and rescans whichever timeframes just closed. Logs rotate
-every 3 h (240 backups), same scheme as the bot.
+every 3 h (240 backups); the bot's own `telegram.log` rotates daily (30
+backups) since 2026-09-08.
 
 ## 5. Optional Apache polish
 

signal_aggregator.py

@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ import pandas as pd
 
 _NY_TZ = ZoneInfo("America/New_York")
 
+# Prefix of the cost-floor veto both core setup generators emit; the XAU_CP
+# cleanup and the post-archetype stale-veto pass match on it, so it is
+# spelled once.
+_SPREAD_GATE_PREFIX = "SPREAD GATE:"
+
 from chart_patterns import detect_chart_pattern
 from config import PlatformConfig, SignalStrength, Timeframe
 from providers import BaseDataProvider, make_data_provider
@@ -129,8 +134,11 @@ class SignalReport:
     bullish_reasons: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
     bearish_reasons: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
     warnings: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
-    # Warnings the XAU_CP acceptance removed from `warnings` (metadata
+    # Warnings a shipped setup superseded, removed from `warnings` but
-    # only — logged so the gates a CP trade bypassed stay auditable).
+    # logged so they stay auditable (metadata only): the vetoes the
+    # XAU_CP acceptance stripped and, since 2026-09-08, a core
+    # generator's stale spread-gate veto when a later generator produced
+    # the setup (`_drop_stale_spread_gate_vetoes`).
     cleaned_warnings: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
 
     current_price: float = 0.0
@@ -889,7 +897,7 @@ class SignalAggregator:
         final when this runs.
         """
         stale_prefixes = (
-            "SPREAD GATE:",
+            _SPREAD_GATE_PREFIX,
             "EXHAUSTION BLOCK",
             "EXHAUSTED TREND FILTER:",
             "MTF OPPOSITION:",
@@ -1225,16 +1233,7 @@ class SignalAggregator:
             self._apply_m5_filters(report)
 
         # ── 7. Trade setup for actionable signals ──────────────────
-        # ATR generator is XAU-only: it hardcodes gold pip value and
+        self._attach_core_setup(report, pip_value)
-        # 2-decimal price rounding.
-        if (report.trade_setup is None and report.signal_quality in ("A+", "A")
-                and report.display_name == "XAU/USD"):
-            atr = (report.primary_analysis.key_levels.get("atr", 0)
-                   if report.primary_analysis else 0)
-            if atr > 0:
-                report.trade_setup = self._generate_xau_atr_trade_setup(report, atr)
-        if report.trade_setup is None and report.signal_quality in ("A+", "A", "B", "C"):
-            report.trade_setup = self._generate_trade_setup(report, pip_value)
 
         # ── 8. Reasons ─────────────────────────────────────────────
         self._collect_reasons(report)
@@ -1271,6 +1270,11 @@ class SignalAggregator:
                             for w in report.warnings)):
             self._try_chart_pattern(report, primary_df, pip_value)
 
+        # ── 11. Stale spread-gate vetoes ─────────────────────────────
+        # Whichever archetype shipped the setup, a core generator's
+        # cost-floor veto no longer describes it.
+        self._drop_stale_spread_gate_vetoes(report)
+
         return report
 
     # ── Internals ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -1278,6 +1282,49 @@ class SignalAggregator:
     # Only A+/A reach the XAU ATR generator (gate at the call site).
     _TP_QUALITY_SCALE = {"A+": 2.0, "A": 1.5}
 
+    def _attach_core_setup(self, report: SignalReport, pip_value: float) -> None:
+        """Step 7: the XAU ATR generator (A+/A) first, the swing generator
+        (GENERIC) for anything it declined. A veto either one leaves
+        behind is reconciled after every archetype has run
+        (`_drop_stale_spread_gate_vetoes`)."""
+        # ATR generator is XAU-only: it hardcodes gold pip value and
+        # 2-decimal price rounding.
+        if (report.trade_setup is None and report.signal_quality in ("A+", "A")
+                and report.display_name == "XAU/USD"):
+            atr = (report.primary_analysis.key_levels.get("atr", 0)
+                   if report.primary_analysis else 0)
+            if atr > 0:
+                report.trade_setup = self._generate_xau_atr_trade_setup(report, atr)
+        if report.trade_setup is None and report.signal_quality in ("A+", "A", "B", "C"):
+            report.trade_setup = self._generate_trade_setup(report, pip_value)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _drop_stale_spread_gate_vetoes(report: SignalReport) -> None:
+        """Step 11: runs once after every setup archetype (core ATR/swing,
+        XAU_PB, XAU_CP) has had its turn.
+
+        Both core generators veto a target under the cost floor with a
+        `_SPREAD_GATE_PREFIX` warning. When a later generator then ships
+        a setup with a bigger target, that veto is stale — the 2026-09-08
+        07:45 UTC A-grade alert said "costs would eat the edge" beside a
+        $26.49 TP1. A stale veto moves to `cleaned_warnings` (metadata
+        only, the XAU_CP cleanup's contract; that path has already
+        stripped its own copy by the time this runs, and the PB path is
+        covered here). Nothing downstream reads warnings while a setup
+        exists, so trade books are unchanged — verified 2026-09-08 on the
+        3-yr H1/M15 books; only the exported `warnings` text column
+        differs.
+        """
+        if report.trade_setup is None:
+            return
+        kept: List[str] = []
+        stale: List[str] = []
+        for warning in report.warnings:
+            (stale if warning.startswith(_SPREAD_GATE_PREFIX) else kept).append(warning)
+        if stale:
+            report.warnings[:] = kept
+            report.cleaned_warnings.extend(stale)
+
     def _generate_xau_atr_trade_setup(
         self, report: SignalReport, atr: float
     ) -> Optional[TradeSetup]:
@@ -1325,7 +1372,7 @@ class SignalAggregator:
         min_tp = self.config.signals.round_trip_cost * self.config.signals.min_tp_cost_multiple
         if tp_distance < min_tp:
             report.warnings.append(
-                f"SPREAD GATE: target ${tp_distance:.2f} < ${min_tp:.2f} minimum — "
+                f"{_SPREAD_GATE_PREFIX} target ${tp_distance:.2f} < ${min_tp:.2f} minimum — "
                 f"costs would eat the edge"
             )
             return None
@@ -1744,7 +1791,7 @@ class SignalAggregator:
         min_tp = self.config.signals.round_trip_cost * self.config.signals.min_tp_cost_multiple
         if tp1_distance < min_tp:
             report.warnings.append(
-                f"SPREAD GATE: target ${tp1_distance:.2f} < ${min_tp:.2f} minimum — "
+                f"{_SPREAD_GATE_PREFIX} target ${tp1_distance:.2f} < ${min_tp:.2f} minimum — "
                 f"costs would eat the edge"
             )
             return None

signal_log.py

@@ -49,8 +49,11 @@ or news_engine) so this module stays at the bottom of the import graph.
 * Post-gate truth columns: ``gate_reason`` (the warning that suppressed
   the setup), ``actionable`` (grade >= C AND setup present — what an
   alert surface would act on; the ``action`` text is written BEFORE the
-  gate chain and can disagree), ``cleaned_warnings_json`` (warnings the
+  gate chain and can disagree), ``cleaned_warnings_json`` (warnings a
-  XAU_CP acceptance removed from ``warnings_json``), ``bar_range_median``
+  shipped setup superseded, removed from ``warnings_json``: the vetoes
+  the XAU_CP acceptance stripped and, since 2026-09-08, a core
+  generator's stale spread-gate veto when a later generator produced
+  the setup — so non-empty does NOT mean "XAU_CP row"), ``bar_range_median``
   (the value historically stored as ``spread`` — it is the median
   High-Low of the primary frame, NOT a broker spread), ``scan_kind``
   (``scan``; ``blocked`` for weekend/day early returns, which carry no

telegram_bot.py

@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ from market_outlook import maybe_run_outlook
 from news_engine import FundamentalContext, NewsEngine
 from pair_signals import PAIR_PRODUCERS
 from signal_aggregator import SignalAggregator, SignalReport
+from signal_log import gate_reason
 from violent_watch import attach_watch, should_send_headsup
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # type hints only — ViolentWatch is never needed at runtime here
@@ -96,13 +97,17 @@ _log_formatter = logging.Formatter(
 )
 _console_handler = logging.StreamHandler()
 _console_handler.setFormatter(_log_formatter)
-# 3-hour rotation × 240 backups = 30 days retention. Handlers sit on the
+# One file per (server-local) day × 30 backups = 30 days retention.
-# ROOT logger (force=True guarantees ownership even if something logged
+# 2026-09-08: was 3-hourly × 240 — a 4-day review meant 18 files. The old
-# first), so every module logger — data_provider, news_engine,
+# `telegram.log.YYYY-MM-DD_HH` files do not match the daily handler's
-# signal_aggregator, websockets, telegram.ext — lands in the same file.
+# cleanup pattern and need one manual delete on the live box.
+# Handlers sit on the ROOT logger (force=True guarantees ownership even
+# if something logged first), so every module logger — data_provider,
+# news_engine, signal_aggregator, websockets, telegram.ext — lands in the
+# same file.
 _file_handler = logging.handlers.TimedRotatingFileHandler(
     os.path.join(_LOG_DIR, "telegram.log"),
-    when="h", interval=3, backupCount=240, encoding="utf-8",
+    when="midnight", backupCount=30, encoding="utf-8",
 )
 _file_handler.setFormatter(_log_formatter)
 logging.basicConfig(level=getattr(logging, _APP.log_level, logging.INFO),
@@ -575,6 +580,44 @@ def _passes_quality(quality: str) -> bool:
     return _QUALITY_RANK.get(quality, 0) >= _QUALITY_RANK.get(_alert_min_quality, 1)
 
 
+def _is_alert_candidate(report: SignalReport, tf_label: str) -> bool:
+    """An alert is a trade call: non-neutral, grade at/above the
+    threshold, AND a trade setup.
+
+    Until 2026-09-08 the setup was not required, so a signal every
+    generator had declined (spread gate, RR floor, swing geometry) still
+    went out — 07:50 UTC that day sent a B-grade SELL with no setup under
+    a "costs would eat the edge" warning. Skips are logged at INFO so the
+    decision stays visible in telegram.log."""
+    if report.final_signal == SignalStrength.NEUTRAL:
+        return False
+    if not _passes_quality(report.signal_quality):
+        return False
+    if report.trade_setup is None:
+        why = gate_reason(report.warnings, report.cleaned_warnings,
+                          report.signal_quality, False)
+        logger.info(
+            f"alert skipped: {report.display_name} {tf_label} "
+            f"{report.final_signal.name} grade {report.signal_quality} "
+            f"has no trade setup ({why})")
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
+def _alert_sent_line(report: SignalReport, tf_label: str, delivered_to: int,
+                     kind: str = "alert") -> str:
+    """One INFO line per alert that reached a chat. Only failures were
+    logged before 2026-09-08, so that day's log review had to reconstruct
+    what was sent from panel rows and dedup skips."""
+    s = report.trade_setup
+    setup = (f"{s.direction} entry {s.entry_price:.2f} sl {s.stop_loss:.2f} "
+             f"tp1 {s.take_profit_1:.2f} [{s.strategy}]" if s else "no setup")
+    rowid = getattr(report, "_signal_log_rowid", None)
+    return (f"{kind} sent: {report.display_name} {tf_label} "
+            f"{report.final_signal.name} grade {report.signal_quality} — "
+            f"{setup} — signal-log row #{rowid} → {delivered_to} chat(s)")
+
+
 _last_alert_quality: Dict[str, str] = {}   # key → grade of last ALERTED signal
 
 
@@ -677,6 +720,17 @@ async def _send_alert(bot, chat_id: int, text: str) -> bool:
         return False
 
 
+async def _broadcast(bot, text: str) -> int:
+    """Send `text` to every signal target; returns how many chats got it.
+    Shared by the scan and breach paths so the delivery rule cannot
+    drift between them."""
+    delivered = 0
+    for chat_id in _signal_targets():
+        if await _send_alert(bot, chat_id, text):
+            delivered += 1
+    return delivered
+
+
 # ── Candle-boundary scheduler ────────────────────────────────────────
 
 _autoscan_chats: Set[int] = set()
@@ -786,8 +840,16 @@ async def _scan_timeframe(
                         _watch_state, now, w.kinds,
                         int(vw_settings.get("max_headsup_per_day", 12)))
                     if ok:
-                        await _send_alert(bot, OWNER_ID,
+                        if await _send_alert(bot, OWNER_ID,
-                                          _format_headsup(report, w))
+                                             _format_headsup(report, w)):
+                            logger.info(
+                                f"violent watch: heads-up sent ({w.level}: "
+                                f"{', '.join(w.kinds)}) signal-log row "
+                                f"#{getattr(report, '_signal_log_rowid', None)}")
+                        else:
+                            logger.warning(
+                                "violent watch: heads-up send failed "
+                                "(this hour's slot is consumed)")
                     else:
                         logger.info(
                             f"violent watch: heads-up skipped ({why})")
@@ -798,11 +860,9 @@ async def _scan_timeframe(
     except Exception:
         logger.exception("violent watch failed")
 
-    candidates = [
+    # Same gate as the breach path: non-neutral, grade ≥ threshold, and a
-        r for r in reports
+    # trade setup (_is_alert_candidate logs the no-setup skips).
-        if r.final_signal != SignalStrength.NEUTRAL   # same gate as breach path
+    candidates = [r for r in reports if _is_alert_candidate(r, tf.value)]
-        and _passes_quality(r.signal_quality)
-    ]
     for report in candidates:
         key = f"{report.symbol}_{tf.value}"
         # The lock spans check → send → commit so a concurrent breach
@@ -818,14 +878,12 @@ async def _scan_timeframe(
             await asyncio.get_running_loop().run_in_executor(
                 _executor, attach_panel, report)
             detail = format_signal_message(report)
-            delivered = False
+            delivered = await _broadcast(bot, detail)
-            for chat_id in _signal_targets():
-                if await _send_alert(bot, chat_id, detail):
-                    delivered = True
             # Commit only when the alert reached at least one target;
             # a fully failed send stays eligible for the next scan.
             if delivered:
                 _commit_alert(key, report)
+                logger.info(_alert_sent_line(report, tf.value, delivered))
 
     # This independent advisory call runs only after the H1 scan completes.
     # Offloading the LLM request keeps the event loop responsive.
@@ -962,8 +1020,7 @@ async def _handle_breach(bot, pair_symbol: str, price: float, level_name: str) -
 
     # Alert only when the rescan produced an actionable, changed signal —
     # same gates as the auto-scanner, so a breach can't spam the channel.
-    if (report.final_signal == SignalStrength.NEUTRAL
+    if not _is_alert_candidate(report, Timeframe.M15.value):
-            or not _passes_quality(report.signal_quality)):
         return
 
     key = f"{pair_symbol}_{Timeframe.M15.value}"
@@ -983,12 +1040,11 @@ async def _handle_breach(bot, pair_symbol: str, price: float, level_name: str) -
             f"*{_escape_md(label)}* @ `{_fmt_price(price)}`\n\n"
         )
         detail = header + format_signal_message(report)
-        sent = False
+        sent = await _broadcast(bot, detail)
-        for chat_id in _signal_targets():
-            if await _send_alert(bot, chat_id, detail):
-                sent = True
         if sent:
             _commit_alert(key, report)
+            logger.info(_alert_sent_line(report, Timeframe.M15.value, sent,
+                                         kind="breach alert"))
 
 
 def _breach_task_done(task: asyncio.Task) -> None:

test_all.py

@@ -2579,6 +2579,55 @@ def _():
             d.pop(key, None)
 
 
+@test("Alert candidates: a quality-passing signal without a trade setup is skipped and logged")
+def _():
+    import logging
+    import telegram_bot as tb
+    from signal_aggregator import SignalReport, TradeSetup
+
+    def rpt(setup: bool, signal=SignalStrength.SELL, q="B"):
+        r = SignalReport(symbol="XAU/USD", display_name="XAU/USD", timestamp="t")
+        r.final_signal = signal
+        r.signal_quality = q
+        r.warnings = ["SPREAD GATE: target $8.31 < $9.00 minimum — "
+                      "costs would eat the edge"]
+        if setup:
+            r.trade_setup = TradeSetup(
+                pair="XAU/USD", display_name="XAU/USD", direction="SELL",
+                entry_price=4388.0, stop_loss=4410.0, take_profit_1=4377.0,
+                take_profit_2=4372.0, risk_reward=0.5, risk_pips=220.0,
+                reward_pips=110.0, pip_value=0.10)
+        return r
+
+    records = []
+    handler = logging.Handler()
+    handler.emit = records.append
+    tb.logger.addHandler(handler)
+    saved_threshold = tb._alert_min_quality
+    tb._alert_min_quality = "C"
+    try:
+        assert tb._is_alert_candidate(rpt(True), "5min")
+        assert not tb._is_alert_candidate(rpt(False), "5min"), \
+            "no trade setup → no alert (the 2026-09-08 07:50 UTC no-setup SELL)"
+        assert not tb._is_alert_candidate(rpt(True, SignalStrength.NEUTRAL), "5min")
+        assert not tb._is_alert_candidate(rpt(True, q="F"), "5min")
+    finally:
+        tb._alert_min_quality = saved_threshold
+        tb.logger.removeHandler(handler)
+    skips = [r.getMessage() for r in records
+             if r.getMessage().startswith("alert skipped:")]
+    assert len(skips) == 1, skips
+    assert "5min SELL grade B" in skips[0] and "SPREAD GATE" in skips[0], skips[0]
+
+    line = tb._alert_sent_line(rpt(True), "5min", 2)
+    assert line.startswith("alert sent: XAU/USD 5min SELL grade B"), line
+    assert "SELL entry 4388.00 sl 4410.00 tp1 4377.00" in line and "2 chat(s)" in line, line
+    r = rpt(True)
+    r._signal_log_rowid = 917
+    breach = tb._alert_sent_line(r, "15min", 1, kind="breach alert")
+    assert breach.startswith("breach alert sent:") and "row #917" in breach, breach
+
+
 @test("Backtester --confirm-tfs defaults to None (factory's live map)")
 def _():
     from gpu_backtest import _parse_args
@@ -2861,6 +2910,65 @@ def _():
     ], rep.warnings
 
 
+@test("Core setup: a stale ATR spread-gate veto is cleaned when the swing generator ships a setup")
+def _():
+    from types import SimpleNamespace
+    from signal_aggregator import SignalAggregator, SignalReport, TradeSetup
+
+    agg = SignalAggregator(PlatformConfig())
+    price = 4400.0
+
+    def rpt(levels):
+        r = SignalReport(symbol="XAU/USD", display_name="XAU/USD", timestamp="t")
+        r.final_signal = SignalStrength.STRONG_BUY
+        r.final_score = 40.0
+        r.signal_quality = "A"
+        r.current_price = price
+        r.primary_analysis = SimpleNamespace(key_levels=dict(levels))
+        return r
+
+    # ATR $2 → the A-grade ATR target is 1.5 × $2 = $3, under the $9 cost
+    # floor (veto + warning). The swing generator's stop sits under the
+    # $20-deep swing low, so its RR-floor target is $11 and a GENERIC
+    # setup ships — the ATR veto is then stale (alert #915, 2026-09-08).
+    r = rpt({"atr": 2.0, "swing_low_1": price - 20.0})
+    agg._attach_core_setup(r, 0.10)
+    assert r.trade_setup is not None and r.trade_setup.strategy == "GENERIC", r.trade_setup
+    assert sum(w.startswith("SPREAD GATE:") for w in r.warnings) == 1, \
+        "the generators themselves leave the veto in place"
+    agg._drop_stale_spread_gate_vetoes(r)
+    assert not any(w.startswith("SPREAD GATE:") for w in r.warnings), r.warnings
+    assert sum(w.startswith("SPREAD GATE:") for w in r.cleaned_warnings) == 1, \
+        "the veto must stay auditable in cleaned_warnings"
+
+    # No swing structure: the swing generator's fallback target is
+    # max(1.5 × ATR, RR floor × the $8 minimum stop) = $4 — also gated —
+    # so no setup ships and BOTH vetoes stay visible.
+    r2 = rpt({"atr": 2.0})
+    agg._attach_core_setup(r2, 0.10)
+    agg._drop_stale_spread_gate_vetoes(r2)
+    assert r2.trade_setup is None
+    assert sum(w.startswith("SPREAD GATE:") for w in r2.warnings) == 2, r2.warnings
+    assert not r2.cleaned_warnings
+
+    # The pass runs after the PB/CP archetypes too: a setup shipped by a
+    # later generator (XAU_PB shape here) supersedes BOTH core vetoes,
+    # and unrelated warnings keep their order.
+    r3 = rpt({"atr": 2.0})
+    agg._attach_core_setup(r3, 0.10)
+    r3.warnings.insert(0, "NEAR EMA200 (0.2%) — chop risk")
+    r3.warnings.append("TREND EXHAUSTION — price extended >3.5 ATR past swing low")
+    r3.trade_setup = TradeSetup(
+        pair="XAU/USD", display_name="XAU/USD", direction="BUY",
+        entry_price=price, stop_loss=price - 8.0, take_profit_1=price + 12.0,
+        take_profit_2=price + 18.0, risk_reward=1.5, risk_pips=80.0,
+        reward_pips=120.0, pip_value=0.10, strategy="XAU_PB")
+    agg._drop_stale_spread_gate_vetoes(r3)
+    assert r3.warnings == ["NEAR EMA200 (0.2%) — chop risk",
+                           "TREND EXHAUSTION — price extended >3.5 ATR past swing low"], r3.warnings
+    assert sum(w.startswith("SPREAD GATE:") for w in r3.cleaned_warnings) == 2
+
+
 @test("CP gate: MTF opposition blocks the pattern trade")
 def _():
     cfg = _cp_config()
@@ -3392,15 +3500,16 @@ def _():
     load_dotenv("/nonexistent/.env")   # missing file is a silent no-op
 
 
-@test("telegram_bot: log rotation is 3-hourly with 30-day retention")
+@test("telegram_bot: log rotation is daily with 30-day retention")
 def _():
     import logging.handlers
     import telegram_bot as tb
     h = tb._file_handler
     assert isinstance(h, logging.handlers.TimedRotatingFileHandler)
-    assert h.when.upper() == "H" and h.interval == 3 * 3600, \
+    assert h.when.upper() == "MIDNIGHT", \
-        "rotation must fire every 3 hours"
+        "one file per day (2026-09-08: was 3-hourly × 240)"
-    assert h.backupCount == 240, "240 × 3h = 30-day retention"
+    assert h.interval == 86400, "plain daily — an interval=N would stretch retention"
+    assert h.backupCount == 30, "30 daily files = 30-day retention"
 
 
 @test("telegram_bot: candle loop survives a failing scan cycle")