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Pattern day trading
Pattern day trading

A definition of Pattern day trading

Updated over 10 months ago

Intraday Trading or Day trading is described as the opening and closing of the same security (any security, including options) on the same day in a brokerage account.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission requires pattern day traders to have at least $25,000 in their trading account to buy and sell the same stock on the same day.

When you buy and sell the same stock, you've made a day trade. You are limited to no more than 3-day trades in a 5 trading day (business day) window.

An example of day trading: You have 0 shares in XYZ stock. You buy 1 share of XYZ and then sell 1 share on the same day. This is considered a day trade.

1 day trade

2 day trades

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Buy 1 Share of XYZ

Sell 1 Share of XYZ

Buy 2 shares of ABC

Sell 1 Share of ABC

Buy 1 Share of ABC

Sell 2 Shares of ABC


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