How to Day Trade for a Living in 2024?

Day trading is a type of investment strategy where financial instruments like stocks, currencies, or futures contracts are bought and sold within the same trading day. The goal of day trading is to make a profit from short-term price fluctuations within the market. Day traders typically use leverage and high-volume trading to capitalize on small price movements in highly liquid stocks or currencies. It's a strategy that requires knowledge, time, and resources, but it can be profitable if done correctly.

Stock and Forex Markets

The stock market refers to public markets that exist for issuing, buying, and selling stocks that trade on stock exchanges. In the context of day trading, traders buy and sell stocks within a day to make profit from short-term price fluctuations.

The Forex Market (Foreign Exchange Market) is an international marketplace where currencies are traded. It is the most liquid and largest financial market in the world. Forex traders aim to profit from changes in an exchange rate between two currencies.

Charts and Indicators

Charts and technical indicators are essential tools for day traders as they provide a graphical representation of market activity. Some popular types of charts used in day trading are Line Charts, Bar Charts, and Candlestick Charts.

Technical indicators are mathematical calculations based on the price, volume, or open interest of a security or contract. They can assist in predicting future price movements. Common technical indicators used by day traders include moving averages, Relative Strength Index (RSI), Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), and Bollinger Bands.

Trading Platforms

A trading platform is software used for trading: opening, closing, and managing market positions through a financial intermediary (e.g., online broker). They offer a range of features like real-time quotes, charting tools, news feeds, and even premium research. Platforms may be proprietary, meaning they are developed by and available from a specific brokerage firm, or they may be third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are widely used across multiple brokers.

Day trading and traditional investing represent two very different approaches to the financial markets. The below is a brief comparison table:

Both day trading and traditional investing present their unique advantages and challenges.

Day trading, though high-paced and potentially stressful, offers the opportunity for substantial profits and quick returns, while circumventing concerns of overnight market risks.

Conversely, traditional investing might involve less risk, allow one to adopt a more passive approach, and present the advantageous prospect of compound returns over time. However, investors must be prepared for potential drawdowns during market downturns and accept a measure of reduced control over their investments in the long term.

Whether you opt for day trading or traditional investing, both require detailed knowledge and discipline.

Day trading for a living requires significant preparation, strategy, and discipline.

Education

Learning about financial markets and trading strategies is of high importance. There are many resources available such as books, blogs, webinars, and courses.

Practice

Day trading requires extensive knowledge and skill. Continuous learning and improvement are vital for ongoing success. Practice accounts or paper trading accounts can provide a risk-free way to practice trading strategies and get familiar with the trading platform.

Create a Trading Plan

Before you start trading, create a detailed trading plan. Determine what you'll trade, your trading strategy, risk management rules, and more.

Capital

You need to have enough money not only to fund your trades but also to withstand any losing trades.

In the US, stock market day traders need a minimum of $25,000 in their accounts due to the “pattern day trader” rule*. However, one can start trading forex or futures with significantly less capital: forex can begin with as slow as $100 and futures with a few thousand dollars.

*The ”pattern day trader rule:

It is a regulation in the United States enforced by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). It states that a day trader - someone who buys and then sells the same security in the same trading day - must maintain a brokerage account balance of at least $25,000. This rule applies if the trader day trades four or more times in five business days, and those day trades make up more than 6% of the trader's total trading activity in that same five-day period. The rule is designed to protect individuals from incurring significant losses.

Broker

Choose a good trading platform or broker. Look for ones that offer reliable service, an intuitive platform, low transaction costs, and good customer service.

On WikiFX, we have meticulously compiled a list of exceptional brokers from various regions and with a variety of trading conditions that you can query based on your requirements. We point you to top-notch Forex brokers around the globe through our handpicked selection like 'Best Forex Brokers in the World for 2024'. For those interested in high-volume trading, our round-up of the '10 Largest Forex Brokers in the World by Volume (2024)' could be of significant use. Please peruse through these carefully crafted listings and more on WikiFX to identify a broker that will best suit your trading needs.

Risk Management

Managing risk effectively is a fundamental aspect of day trading, and it involves several key strategies:

• Setting Up Stop Loss and Take Profit Levels: It's essential to have a plan when entering a trade, including when to exit, both in a losing or winning scenario. A stop loss order is set to limit a traders loss on a position, while a take profit order lets you lock in a certain profit. These tools can help manage risks by providing control over potential outcomes.

• Understanding the Importance of the Risk/Reward Ratio: This ratio is used by traders to manage their capital. It compares the potential for loss (risk) with the potential for profit (reward). A favorable risk-reward ratio is often considered to be 1:2 or higher.

• Diversification in Day Trading: Although day trading tends to focus on single positions, it's still essential to diversify. This can mean trading different asset classes, sectors, or even using different trading strategies.

Emotional Control

It's crucial for day traders to make decisions based on logic and strategy, rather than falling into the trap of emotional trading. Feelings of fear and greed can significantly cloud judgment, leading to unpredictable results. Maintaining emotional discipline can help you stick to your trading plan and strategies.

Review and Improve

Regularly review your trades and adjust your approach based on results. Keep learning and improving your strategy.

Day trading is a complex and high-risk activity that requires a lot of knowledge and skill. Successful day traders use a variety of strategies to help them navigate the market and make profits. Some of the most common day trading strategies are Scalping, Momentum Trading, Breakout Trading, Reversal Trading and News Trading.

Each of these strategies has its own techniques and considerations, which give you the flexibility to choose the one that matches your trading style and risk tolerance the best.

Scalping: This strategy involves making numerous trades throughout the day, aiming to profit from small price movements. Scalpers typically enter and exit trades within minutes.

Momentum Trading: This strategy involves entering into trade after a stock has made a significant move in one direction with heavy volume, with the expectation that the trend will continue.

Breakout Trading: This involves buying a stock when it breaks above resistance or shorting it when it falls below support. These traders believe that when a level is broken the trend will continue in that direction.

Reversal Trading: These traders look for stocks that are breaking away from their usual pattern. They trade on the assumption that the price will reverse.

News Trading: This involves trading stocks that are in the news, thinking that the news (either good or bad) will spark a strong move in the stock.

Each strategy involves different levels of risk and potential reward. You can find more details in the table below:

If you are seeking to further understanding and explore more about trading strategies, I highly recommend visiting this article, 'Best Forex Trading Strategies in 2024 (Top 8)'. This article offers valuable insights that can greatly enhance your knowledge of various trading strategies and can give you an edge in day trading. 

No, day trading is not legal in all countries. Regulatory frameworks for day trading differ from country to country. Some nations, like the United States, have clear legal frameworks for day trading. However, other countries might severely limit or even prohibit day trading.

United States: Day trading is legal, but there are specific regulations. For instance, to be considered a 'pattern day trader', you must maintain a minimum balance of $25,000 in your trading account.

India: Day trading is legal and widely practised. However, specific rules govern taxation, and day traders have to comply with Securities Transaction Tax (STT).

China: Day trading in the equities market is generally limited by the 'T+1' rule, which inhibits the buying and selling of a particular stock on the same day.

Saudi Arabia: Here, day trading is legal with the establishment of Tadawul, the Saudi Stock Exchange.

Belgium: As of 2016, Belgium has banned advertising for binary options and CFDs, which are common instruments for day trading.

France: France has tightened regulations on day trading, particularly concerning CFDs and Forex trading, largely due to risks to retail investors.

Yes, it is possible to make a living through day trading, but this is not the case for most traders. Studies suggest that most day traders lose money and that only around 10% to 20% of day traders may be consistently profitable. Successful day trading is challenging and requires a significant investment of time, effort, and capital. Furthermore, even profitable traders often make only marginal returns after considering the cost of expenses such as trading fees, taxes, and computer equipment. 

Day trading is often considered a full-time job because it requires significant time commitment.

Pre-Market Hours

Even before the market opens, you should be reviewing the market's overall sentiment, news, updates, and potential impacts these could have on your trading. This could take around 1-2 hours.

Market Hours

During market hours, day traders need to monitor their positions closely as prices can change rapidly. This requires constant vigilance. Given that most major stock exchanges are open for about 6.5 hours per day, this is the minimum time you may need to devote directly to trading.

Post-Market Hours

After the market closes, it's time for post-market analysis. Review the trading day, record your trades, and prep for the next trading session. Depending on your thoroughness, this could take around 1-2 hours.

So, day trading can require up to 8-10 hours or more per day. However, heavy screen time can be mentally exhausting and potentially harmful to your performance over time. Taking regular breaks is essential to maintaining your mental agility and overall wellbeing.

Don't forget, apart from actual trading hours, successful traders also put time into learning and evolving their trading skills through educational content, simulations, and backtesting strategies. Weekend hours could be utilized for this purpose.

Starting day trading requires several key skills:

Market Knowledge: Understanding of financial markets and trading fundamentals.

Technical Analysis: Ability to analyze charts, identify patterns and trends, and use technical indicators.

Risk Management: Understanding of how to mitigate risk and when to cut losses.

Discipline: Ability to adhere to a pre-determined trading plan without letting emotions disrupt it.

Decision Making: Capacity to make quick, informed decisions based on market movements and indicators.

Emotional Control: Ability to stay calm under pressure and keep emotions separate from trading.

Money Management: Good grasp of managing capital and understanding the importance of not risking too much on a single trade.

Continued Learning: Willingness to continuously learn and adapt to new information or changes in the market.

These skills can be developed over time and with practice. It's also beneficial to learn from experienced traders and gain practical experience through simulated trading before investing real capital.

The amount of capital needed to start day trading depends on several factors such as the market you're trading in, your trading strategy, and your risk management rules.

For example, in the United States, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules state that day traders in the stock market must have at least $25,000 in their accounts, under a regulation known as the “pattern day trader” rule. On the other hand, if you're trading forex or futures, those markets require less starting capital. Some brokers can allow you to start trading forex with as little as $100 or futures with a few thousand dollars.

Never risk more than a small percentage of your trading bank on any one trade.

Trading Without a Plan: It's crucial to have a clear plan with your goals, risk management rules, and a defined strategy. Trading without a plan can lead to impulsive decisions and significant losses.

Neglecting Risk Management: Not setting stop-loss orders or risking too much capital on a single trade can expose you to huge losses.

Overtrading: It's a common misconception that successful day trading means making multiple trades every day. In reality, overtrading can lead to increased transaction costs and poor decision-making.

Lack of Knowledge: Successful trading requires a deep understanding of the financial markets, technical analysis, and trading strategies. Many beginners jump into trading without acquiring necessary knowledge and end up making losses.

Ignoring the Trends: “The trend is your friend” isn't just a catchy saying—it's a foundational principle in trading. Ignoring market trends can result in unsuccessful trades.

Emotional Trading: Letting emotions influence trading decisions, such as chasing losses or clinging to losing positions hoping they'll turn around, often leads to poor outcomes.

Having Unrealistic Expectations: Many beginners expect unrealistically high returns from day trading. However, trading is not a quick way to get rich—it requires patience, practice, and discipline.

Using Too Much Leverage: While leverage can magnify profits, it can also magnify losses. Beginners often misuse leverage and end up wiping out their trading account.

To avoid these mistakes, beginners should invest time in learning about markets and trading strategies, practicing in a demo account, managing risks, and developing a solid trading plan.