diff --git a/services/trading/engine.py b/services/trading/engine.py
index 43c3ac4..1a39669 100644
--- a/services/trading/engine.py
+++ b/services/trading/engine.py
@@ -584,11 +584,21 @@ class TradingEngine:
                         "WHERE action IN ('buy','sell') "
                         "AND mode IN ('paper_eligible','live_eligible') "
                         "AND generated_at > $1 "
-                        "ORDER BY confidence DESC",
+                        "ORDER BY confidence DESC "
+                        "LIMIT 50",
                         self._last_poll_timestamp,
                     )
-                    self._last_poll_timestamp = datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc)
+                    if rows:
+                        # Advance timestamp to the oldest rec in this batch
+                        # so next poll picks up where we left off
+                        last_gen = max(r["generated_at"] for r in rows)
+                        self._last_poll_timestamp = last_gen
                     recs = [dict(r) for r in rows]
+                    if recs:
+                        logger.info(
+                            "Polled %d recommendations (highest confidence=%.3f)",
+                            len(recs), recs[0].get("confidence", 0),
+                        )
                 except Exception:
                     logger.debug("Could not poll recommendations — table may not exist yet")
                     continue