Day trading is an integral part of the stock market. These traders are always looking to make some quick easy money, and they buy and sell stocks and options for a quick profit, they generally hold their position for short terms, usually less than a day, hence the name Day Trading. The trader buys shares not with an investment purpose but with a quick profit in mind.
The day traders keep buying and selling throughout the day with the intention of a short term profit. The value stock keeps fluctuating second to second throughout the day and as it does, the fortunes of the traders also fluctuate. It is high risk trading and not for the faint of heart.
Many day traders operate with borrowed money, they obtain money at high interest with the hope that their profits will cover the cost of the loan. This is a risky way to try and make a living, resulting in tremendous pressure to succeed. A person operating under this type of pressure seldom makes good decisions, resulting in terrible losses. Which in turn feeds the cycle, borrow more money, higher pressure to win, poor decisions.
Day trading is neither illegal nor is it unethical. But it is risky. You need to keep certain factors in mind before deciding to try your hand at day trading. An investor must be mentally prepared to suffer huge risks and he must be financially capable of making good his losses should the need arise. The trader should only invest only what they can afford to lose. They should not take the house payment and stick it into the stock market.
It has been said, if you can't drive down the road with your car windows rolled down and hundred dollar bills flying out the window and not get upset, then you shouldn't try day trading. Keep in mind, for most traders, day trading is not about investing, it is more like gambling, and is just as addictive. No one can predict how the stock market will react on a day to day basis, so a successful day trader must know how to lock in profits and cut his losses as soon as they can. Typically, this means not carrying their position overnight in the hope that the next day will bring better prices.
Day trading is not meant for the weak hearted, because it can be extremely stressful. It can take up your entire day with monitoring the stock prices. Just don't buy into the hype about easy money, and don't blindly follow any hot tips or leads. You need to do your research before you buy.
John Marston is a self taught trader who has traded online for over 15 years from his home in California. Here is the exclusive Forex Market Trading System that John uses; you can also go to his website at http://www.Trade-The-Stockmarket.com which has a wealth of information about various trading strategies. You can also read his Blog which describes some of his personal trading strategies.