subject: Formula to Recall during Online Day Trading [print this page] Author: DayTrading Templates Author: DayTrading Templates
One is a day trader by trading stocks, options, commodities, or futures by using the Web. Do you know the conditions of online day trading? This query crops up lots of times in our user's assembly. Now, if I unintentionally (or wittingly) contravene any of these rules, what comes to pass?
There are several variations of actions that can come about that may start online day trading and I will try to answer most of them. I will state the most frequent since each circumstance is unlike.
Online Day Trading
This article only discusses online day trading as it pertains for stocks and options vs commodities and futures. Online day trading rules for commodities and Futures are have a different set of rules. I have no idea about other trading disciplines. You will learn day trading inside functions.
When you buy and sell a stock, option, future, or commodity on the same day, that is online day trading. Online day trade has just been performed when 1000 shares or contracts ABC (fictitious symbol) has been bought at 9:30 am and sold at 12:15 pm.
Pattern Day Trader
A pattern day trader is defined in Exchange Rule 431 (Margin Requirement) as any customer who carries out 4 or more same online day trades within any 5 successive business days. Further, your online day trading activities are greater than 6 % of your total trading activity for that same 5 day period (from FINRA web site). The margin requirements for commodity and future trading is much different.
Day Trading Rules for a Day Trading System
1. The equity in your trading account must be preserved over $25,000 to be able to trade and not come upon setbacks.
Trading futures and commodities, margins can be as low as $500.
2. Any profits from the stock's transaction cannot be utilized in a new trade on the same day when buying and selling similar stock in the same day for accounts under $25k. This may also hinge on each brokerage account.
In converse, futures and commodity trading allows a trader to trade multiple times in the same day using the same funds.
3. Only 3 trades are permitted within one week (5 trading days). By the 4th day of trading, you will be given a 90-day suspension of all trading activities.
This is not true with Futures and Commodity trading. A online day trader can trade mulitple times in a day with no restrictions.
Penalties with Stocks and Options. The importance of a day trading course.
1. You may get a 90-day suspension of all online day trading activities.
2. Your account can be suspended for 90 days and no trading will be permitted in that account.
Avoiding Problems
1. A minimum equity of $25,000should be kept in your trading account.
2. For accounts under $25k, never buy and sell a position in the same day, maintain your position overnight.
3. If you buy and sell the same stock/option in the same day, do not go into a new trade where the funds from the sale of the stock just sold will be used in the purchase of a new position.
4. If you have procured a position from cash from a prior same day sell, it would be sensible to preserve that position overnight.
5. Do not accomplish a day trade activity more than three times per week.
I have attempted to present the day trading rules as I have encountered them over my years of trading. In depth information on online day trading and pattern day trader can be obtained by exploring the Net . Wikipedia can be utilized to find such information.
I have used accounts with less than $25k and have never had a ninety-day suspension canon applied, but have had some admonitions about a trade that may prompt the 90-suspension canon. When this ensues, I just wait for the following day and recommence trading. Good luck in your trading.
