Day Trading
Day trading rules, strategies, premarket, and setups
50 articles in this category
What Is Day Trading? Everything You Need to Know
Day trading means buying and selling stocks within the same day. Learn the basics, rules, capital requirements, and what it takes to get started.
Day Trading Rules: PDT Rule, Margin Requirements & Regulations
The PDT rule requires $25,000 minimum equity for frequent day traders. Learn the rules, margin requirements, and strategies for smaller accounts.
Paper Trading: How to Practice Trading Without Risking Real Money
Paper trading lets you practice with simulated money before risking real capital. Learn the best platforms and how to make paper trading as realistic as possible.
Stock Market Hours: Trading Hours, Pre-Market & After-Hours
The stock market is open 9:30am to 4pm ET, but trading extends further. Learn about pre-market, regular hours, and after-hours trading sessions.
Pre-Market Trading: Hours, Rules & How to Trade Before the Open
Pre-market trading runs from 4am to 9:30am ET. Learn how it works, the unique risks involved, and strategies for trading before the market opens.
After-Hours Trading: How It Works & What You Need to Know
After-hours trading runs from 4pm to 8pm ET with lower liquidity. Learn the mechanics, risks, and how earnings releases drive after-hours moves.
Day Trading Strategies: 7 Proven Methods for Active Traders
Learn 7 proven day trading strategies used by professional traders. Each strategy includes clear entry rules, stop placement, and profit targets.
Scalping: The Fast-Paced Day Trading Strategy Explained
Scalping targets small, quick profits over many trades. Learn the mindset, tools, and execution skills needed for this high-speed trading strategy.
Level 2 Quotes: How to Read the Order Book Like a Pro
Level 2 quotes show the full order book with all bids and asks. Learn to read the depth of market and spot hidden buying and selling pressure.
Tape Reading & Time and Sales: Reading Order Flow in Real Time
Tape reading is the art of reading Time & Sales data to understand real-time order flow. Learn to spot large prints and institutional activity.
Best Stocks for Day Trading: How to Pick the Right Tickers
Not every stock is suited for day trading. Learn the key criteria — volume, float, volatility, and catalysts — that make a stock ideal for intraday trades.
Day Trading for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Starting Guide
New to day trading? Follow this step-by-step roadmap covering everything from choosing a broker to developing your first strategy and going live.
How Much Money Do You Need to Start Day Trading?
The PDT rule requires $25,000, but there are ways to start with less. Learn realistic capital requirements and strategies for smaller trading accounts.
Day Trading Setup: Hardware, Software & Workspace Guide
Your trading setup matters. Learn what hardware, software, monitors, and workspace setup professional day traders use for maximum efficiency.
Pre-Market Routine: What Professional Day Traders Do Every Morning
Successful day traders follow a consistent morning routine. Learn the pre-market steps pros take every morning to prepare for the trading day.
Gap and Go Strategy: How to Trade Morning Gappers
The gap and go strategy targets stocks gapping up at the open with momentum. Learn how to scan for gappers, set entries, and manage risk intraday.
VWAP Day Trading Strategy: How Institutions Use It
VWAP is the most important intraday indicator for institutions. Learn how to use it as support/resistance, for trend bias, and as a trade trigger.
Opening Range Breakout: The First 30-Minute Strategy
The opening range breakout uses the first 15-30 minutes to set up trades for the rest of the day. Learn the rules, filters, and best market conditions.
Momentum Trading: How to Catch & Ride Strong Moves
Momentum trading focuses on stocks making strong moves with high volume. Learn how to find momentum stocks, time entries, and ride the move for profit.
How to Find Stocks to Day Trade: Scanners, Criteria & Workflow
Finding the right stocks to trade is half the battle. Learn how to use scanners, set criteria for float, volume, and gaps, and build a daily workflow.
Prop Trading: How It Works & How to Get Funded
Prop firms fund traders with their capital in exchange for a profit split. Learn how prop trading works, how to get funded, and which firms to consider.
What Is a Brokerage Account? How to Open One & Start Trading
A brokerage account is your gateway to trading and investing. Learn the types, how to open one, and what to look for when choosing a broker.
Best Trading Platforms for Beginners: Top Picks Compared
Choosing the right trading platform as a beginner makes a big difference. We compare the top picks by usability, features, fees, and education.
Day Trading on Robinhood: Rules, Limits & What You Need to Know
Robinhood is popular but has limitations for day traders. Learn the PDT rules, settlement times, and whether it is the right platform for active trading.
Thinkorswim Guide: Paper Trading, Charts & Key Features
Thinkorswim is one of the most powerful free trading platforms. Learn paper trading, custom charts, thinkScript, scanners, and the features that matter.
Day Trading on Webull: Features, Rules & Limitations
Webull offers commission-free trading with extended hours and paper trading. Learn its features, day trading rules, and how it stacks up against competitors.
Algorithmic Trading for Beginners: What It Is & How to Start
Algorithmic trading uses code to execute strategies automatically. Learn the basics, popular algo strategies, and how to get started with your first bot.
Stock Scanners & Screeners: How to Filter 10,000 Stocks Into 10
You can't watch 10,000 stocks. Scanners filter them into a handful that match your criteria. Here's how to set them up.
Order Flow Trading: How to Read What the Market Is Actually Doing
Order flow reveals who is buying and selling in real time. It's the closest thing to seeing the market's hand.
When to Sell a Stock: Exit Signals Every Trader Should Know
Most traders focus on entries but exits determine profitability. Here are the signals that tell you it's time to sell.
Building & Managing a Stock Portfolio: From 1 Position to 20
Starting with one stock and growing to 20 positions requires a plan. Here's how to build and manage your portfolio.
Extended Hours Trading: Complete Guide to Pre-Market & After-Hours
You can trade before the bell and after the close — but liquidity is thin and spreads are wide. Here's what to know.
Stock Market Simulators: Best Free Platforms to Practice Trading
Paper trading simulators let you practice without risking real money. Here are the best free platforms to start with.
Day Trading Penny Stocks: Scanners, Setups & Risk Management
Penny stocks can move 50% in a day — up or down. Here's how to find setups, manage risk, and avoid the traps.
Slippage: Why Your Fill Price Differs from Your Expected Price
Slippage eats into profits when your fill price is worse than expected. Learn why it happens and how to minimize it.
Power Hour: Why the Last Hour of Trading Matters Most
The last hour of trading — power hour — brings the biggest volume and sharpest moves. Learn how to trade it.
CANSLIM: William O'Neil's 7-Step Stock Selection Method
CANSLIM screens stocks using 7 criteria — from earnings growth to institutional sponsorship. Learn each factor and how to apply it.
Arbitrage Trading: How to Profit from Price Differences
Arbitrage profits from price differences of the same asset in different markets. Learn the types and why speed is everything.
How Much Do Day Traders Make? Realistic Income Expectations
Most day traders lose money. The profitable ones earn widely varying amounts. Learn what realistic income expectations look like.
ORB Strategy: Trading the Opening Range Breakout Step by Step
The ORB strategy trades breakouts from the opening range. Learn how to define the range, set entries, and place stops.
Red to Green Move: How to Trade the Intraday Reversal
A red-to-green move signals intraday strength as a stock reverses from negative to positive. Learn the entry criteria and how to trade it.
ABCD Day Trade Setup: The Most Reliable Intraday Pattern
The ABCD is a four-point momentum pattern: initial move, pullback, and continuation. Learn the rules for this bread-and-butter day trade.
How to Trade Halted Stocks: Before, During & After the Halt
Halts pause trading when a stock moves too fast. Learn what triggers them, how to prepare, and how to trade the resume.
Pre-Market Movers: How to Scan & Trade Before the Open
Pre-market movers show unusual activity before the open. Learn how to scan for them and build your daily watchlist.
Day Trading with a Small Account: Strategies Under $25K
Under $25K? The PDT rule limits your day trades. Learn the workarounds, strategies, and how to grow a small account.
Trading Hotkeys: Speed Up Execution with Keyboard Shortcuts
Hotkeys execute orders instantly with keyboard shortcuts. Learn the essential hotkeys every day trader should configure.
Direct Access Brokers: Why Speed Matters for Active Traders
Direct access brokers skip the middleman and route orders straight to exchanges. Learn why speed matters and who needs one.
Short Locates: How Borrows Work for Day Trading Shorts
Short locates confirm that shares are available to borrow. Learn how the locate process works and what hard-to-borrow means.
Trading Commissions & Fees: The Hidden Costs of Active Trading
Zero-commission trading is not truly free. Learn the hidden fees — SEC fees, FINRA TAF, PFOF — that add up for active traders.
Cash Available to Trade vs Settled Cash: What You Can Actually Spend
Cash available includes unsettled proceeds. Settled cash is fully cleared. Using the wrong one can trigger violations.