Day Trading

While day trading is neither illegal nor is it unethical, it can be highly risky. Most individual investors do not have the wealth, the time, or the temperament to make money and to sustain the devastating losses that day trading can bring.

Here are some of the facts that every investor should know about day trading:

Be prepared to suffer severe financial losses

Day traders typically suffer severe financial losses in their first months of trading, and many never graduate to profit-making status. Given these outcomes, it's clear: day traders should only risk money they can afford to lose. They should never use money they will need for daily living expenses, retirement, take out a second mortgage, or use their student loan money for day trading.

Day traders do not "invest"

Day traders sit in front of computer screens and look for a stock that is either moving up or down in value. They want to ride the momentum of the stock and get out of the stock before it changes course. They do not know for certain how the stock will move, they are hoping that it will move in one direction, either up or down in value. True day traders do not own any stocks overnight because of the extreme risk that prices will change radically from one day to the next, leading to large losses.

Day trading is an extremely stressful and expensive full-time job

Day traders must watch the market continuously during the day at their computer terminals. It's extremely difficult and demands great concentration to watch dozens of ticker quotes and price fluctuations to spot market trends. Day traders also have high expenses, paying their firms large amounts in commissions, for training, and for computers. Any day trader should know up front how much they need to make to cover expenses and break even.

Day traders depend heavily on borrowing money or buying stocks on margin

Borrowing money to trade in stocks is always a risky business. Day trading strategies demand using the leverage of borrowed money to make profits. This is why many day traders lose all their money and may end up in debt as well. Day traders should understand how margin works, how much time they'll have to meet a margin call, and the potential for getting in over their heads.

Don't believe claims of easy profits

Don't believe advertising claims that promise quick and sure profits from day trading. Before you start trading with a firm, make sure you know how many clients have lost money and how many have made profits. If the firm does not know, or will not tell you, think twice about the risks you take in the face of ignorance.

Watch out for "hot tips" and "expert advice" from newsletters and websites catering to day traders

Some websites have sought to profit from day traders by offering them hot tips and stock picks for a fee. Once again, don't believe any claims that trumpet the easy profits of day trading. Check out these sources thoroughly and ask them if they have been paid to make their recommendations.

Remember that "educational" seminars, classes, and books about day trading may not be objective

Find out whether a seminar speaker, an instructor teaching a class, or an author of a publication about day trading stands to profit if you start day trading.

Check out day trading firms with your state securities regulator

Like all broker-dealers, day trading firms must register with the SEC and the states in which they do business. Confirm registration by calling your state securities regulator and at the same time ask if the firm has a record of problems with regulators or their customers. You can find the telephone number for your state securities regulator in the government section of your phone book or by calling the North American Securities Administrators Association at (202) 737-0900. NASAA also provides this information on its website at www.nasaa.org/QuickLinks/ContactYourRegulator.cfm.

Instead, read the Intelligent Investor and follow Warren Buffett. Get a great job and invest the proceeds wisely.

Best Regards,

Docmase

For margin accounts, if you're marked as a pattern day trader, additional rules kick in. One example is a $25,000 minimum equity requirement, special margin limits, and additional ways you can get a margin call.

I don't know anything about a rule that blocks you from trading for a week, though if you violate some of the rules, you account can become treated as a cash account for 90 days.

Check this website (and the one it links to) for more details: http://www.patterndaytraderrule.com/

limit = a parameter (e.g., price, length of time before it can be cancelled) that you place on the shares that you intend to buy/sell

stop limit = when the stock reaches your limit price, the order that you give (buy or sell) is executed

stop = when the stock price goes beyond a particular point, this order becomes a market order

trailing stop = similar to a stop order, but has a set percentage, instead of a particular point (and will therefore move with the market price)

short (selling) = selling stocks that you do not own (with borrowed money from the broker), but assuming that you'll be able buy these shares at a lower price

cover = completing the transaction (e.g., buying the stocks from the short sales)

GTC = "good 'til canceled"; your order to buy/sell at a particular price will expire at the end of the trading day if you do not provide this instruction

…happy trading!

There are many different kinds of Forex Trading Systems and you need to know a few facts as mentioned below, before choosing and funding a system.

1. Testimonials: Is there anyone out there who is trying to sell a system and show you testimonials from the people who actually didn't like the system? Highly unlikely. You should do proper research before indulging into a system that is completely new to you.

2. Profit: Do you want to work with a Forex Trading system that breaks even? Why? If you keep the money in your home, you will still break even, then why take all the hassles of setting up an Forex Trading account and do all the work. Really speaking, you should always do some research on how profitable a particular trading system is?

3. Drawdown: The maximum drawdown of trading system is defined as the greatest peak-to-valley drawdown in a trading system’s equity. Maximum drawdown gives us a measure of the survivability of the trading system.

4. Time to profit: The actual time it takes to achieve the results with a particular trading system. You should plan to have a long and profitable relationship with your trading system.

Try to use a trading system that let you open a Demo account so that you can practice and learn about Forex Trading without risking any money.

I have tried many of these systems in my quest to simplify my trading experience. I personally have found FreedomRocks to be the system that has worked for me. I have found no bad information on this system from anybody that has actually used it. I have found many skeptics and bashers but nothing from those that have actually tried at least the free trial they offer.

Below are a couple of links I have found in my travels around the web:

http://www.yourforexinvestor.com

http://www.babypips.com

Now as far as how much money you would need to gat started I have helped people get started with amounts ranging from $500 up to well over six figures. If you would like I could send you a spreadsheet of how to get started right with just $500 invested on a monthly bugeted basis. The spreadsheet will show you how that investment could easily grow to well over $240,000 within 60 months! Feel free to e-mail me and I will get that right over to you.
bjwells@yourforexinvestor.com

To Your Success,
Brandon Wells
877-773-5345

Day trading — you buy and sell within the same trading day. Or sell and buy if you are shorting.

Note that if you are day trading on US exchanges there are regulations that must be met.