A beginner's guide to day trading

Day trading, or intraday trading, involves buying and selling stocks within the same day. Traders buy in a rising market and sell in a falling market.
A beginner's guide to day trading
3 mins
03 July 2024

Day trading is a type of trading where you buy and sell stocks or other financial instruments on the same day. This means that you are not holding on to the investments overnight, and you are trying to profit from short-term price movements. This can be a very profitable way to invest, but it is also very risky. If you are not careful, you can lose a lot of money very quickly.

If you are thinking about day trading, it is important to do your research and learn as much as you can about the market. You should also start with a small amount of money and gradually increase your investment as you become more experienced.

Day trading guide for beginners

Here is a day trading guide for beginners

1. Learn the basics of the stock market

Before you start day trading, it is important to have a good understanding of how the stock market works. This includes understanding things like how stocks are priced, how to read a stock chart, and how to use fundamental analysis.

2. Choose a broker

You will need to open a trading account with a trusted broker like Bajaj Financial Securities Limited (BFSL) in order to start day trading.

3. Set up a demo account

You can set up a demo account on many online platforms now-a-days. This is a practice account that allows you to trade with virtual money. This is a great way to learn how to trade without risking any real money.

4. Develop a trading strategy

Before you start day trading with real money, you need to develop a trading strategy. This is a plan that will help you make trading decisions. Your trading strategy should include things like your risk tolerance, your profit targets, and your stop-loss levels.

5. Start small

When you first start day trading, it is important to start small. This will help you minimise your risk. You can gradually increase your investment as you become more experienced.

6. Be patient

Day trading should not be an easy way to make quick money. It takes time and effort to be successful. Don’t expect to make a lot of money overnight.

7. Manage your risk

One of the most important things to remember when day trading is to manage your risk. This means setting stop-loss orders to limit your losses. It also means only risking a small percentage of your account on each trade.

8. Take breaks

Day trading can be very stressful. It is important to take breaks throughout the day to avoid making rash decisions.

9. Stay disciplined

It is important to stay disciplined when day trading. This means sticking to your trading plan and not letting your emotions get the best of you.

10. Get help if you need it

If you are struggling to be successful with day trading, there are many resources available to help you. You can find many websites and books that can teach you how to day trade.

Additional read: Fear and greed index

Here are some strategies employed by day traders

There are several strategies that day trading beginners for trading stocks. Some of the top strategies include:

1. Scalping

This strategy involves making numerous small trades throughout the day, aiming to profit from tiny price fluctuations. Scalpers focus on quick entries and exits to capture small gains, relying on high trading volumes and tight spreads.

2. Trend following

Traders using this strategy identify and trade in the direction of the prevailing market trend. They enter long (buy) positions in uptrends and short (sell) positions in downtrends, aiming to ride the price momentum for a portion of the trend's movement.

3. Pivot points

Pivot points are calculated based on the previous day's high, low, and closing prices. Traders use these levels as potential support and resistance areas. They look for price reactions near pivot points to make trading decisions.

4. Momentum trading

Momentum traders focus on assets with strong recent price movements, expecting the momentum to continue. They enter positions in the direction of the prevailing momentum, aiming to profit from short-term trends.

5. Range trading

Range traders identify price ranges where an asset's price tends to oscillate between support and resistance levels. They buy near support and sell near resistance, profiting from price movements within the established r.ange.

6. News trading

Traders using this strategy capitalise on significant news events that can cause sudden price movements. They react quickly to news releases and economic indicators, attempting to profit from the ensuing volatility.

7. Arbitrage

Arbitrage involves exploiting price discrepancies between different markets or exchanges for the same asset. Traders simultaneously buy and sell in different markets to profit from the price difference.

Some common day trading terms

Here are explanations of some key terms you should know as a day trader:

1. Bid-ask spread

The bid-ask spread is the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay for a security (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for it (ask). The bid-ask spread is an important factor to consider in day trading because it affects the profitability of trades.

2. Candlestick

A candlestick is a charting method used in technical analysis that displays the trading range of a security for a given period. Candlestick charts are commonly used in day trading because they make it easy to visualise and analyse price movements over time.

3. Leverage

Leverage is the use of borrowed funds to amplify potential gains and losses in trading. Many day traders use leveraged instruments such as margin accounts to increase their buying power and take larger positions in the market.

4. Limit order

A limit order is an order placed with a broker to buy or sell a security at a specific price. Limit orders are used by day traders to enter and exit the market at pre-determined prices and can help to mitigate risks associated with sudden price movements.

5. Long position

A long position is the purchase of a security with the expectation that it will increase in value. Day traders may take long positions in stocks, ETFs, or other assets that they believe are undervalued or have strong growth potential.

6. Short position

A short position is the sale of a security with the expectation that its value will decline. Day traders may take short positions in stocks, ETFs, or other assets that they believe are overvalued or have weak growth prospects.

7. Stop loss

A stop loss is an order placed with a broker to close out a position in the market at a pre-determined price to limit potential losses. Many day traders use stop losses to manage risk and protect their assets from sudden price movements.

8. Technical analysis

Technical analysis is the study of historical price and volume data to identify patterns and trends in the market. Day traders often use technical analysis to help them make trading decisions and spot potential opportunities for profits.

9. Volume

Volume refers to the total number of shares or contracts that are traded for a particular security during a given period. High volume can indicate strong interest in a security, while low volume may suggest a lack of interest or liquidity.

10. Moving average

A moving average is a technical indicator that smooths out price data by averaging it over a given period. Moving averages are commonly used in day trading to help identify trends and potential entry or exit points for trades.

Conclusion

Day trading can be a bear fruits for beginners who are willing to put in the time and effort to learn the markets and develop their trading skills. The key to success in day trading is to have a solid trading plan, discipline, risk management strategies, and emotional control. Beginners should start with a small capital and position size and gradually increase their positions as they gain experience and confidence. With the right approach and mindset, beginners can achieve success in day trading.

Bajaj Finserv app for all your financial needs and goals

Trusted by 50 million+ customers in India, Bajaj Finserv App is a one-stop solution for all your financial needs and goals.

You can use the Bajaj Finserv App to:

  • Apply for loans online, such as Instant Personal Loan, Home Loan, Business Loan, Gold Loan, and more.
  • Invest in fixed deposits and mutual funds on the app.
  • Choose from multiple insurance for your health, motor and even pocket insurance, from various insurance providers.
  • Pay and manage your bills and recharges using the BBPS platform. Use Bajaj Pay and Bajaj Wallet for quick and simple money transfers and transactions.
  • Apply for Insta EMI Card and get a pre-approved limit on the app. Explore over 1 million products on the app that can be purchased from a partner store on Easy EMIs.
  • Shop from over 100+ brand partners that offer a diverse range of products and services.
  • Use specialised tools like EMI calculators, SIP Calculators
  • Check your credit score, download loan statements and even get quick customer support—all on the app.

Download the Bajaj Finserv App today and experience the convenience of managing your finances on one app.

Do more with the Bajaj Finserv App!

UPI, Wallet, Loans, Investments, Cards, Shopping and more

Disclaimer

1. Bajaj Finance Limited (“BFL”) is a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) and Prepaid Payment Instrument Issuer offering financial services viz., loans, deposits, Bajaj Pay Wallet, Bajaj Pay UPI, bill payments and third-party wealth management products. The details mentioned in the respective product/ service document shall prevail in case of any inconsistency with respect to the information referring to BFL products and services on this page.

2. All other information, such as, the images, facts, statistics etc. (“information”) that are in addition to the details mentioned in the BFL’s product/ service document and which are being displayed on this page only depicts the summary of the information sourced from the public domain. The said information is neither owned by BFL nor it is to the exclusive knowledge of BFL. There may be inadvertent inaccuracies or typographical errors or delays in updating the said information. Hence, users are advised to independently exercise diligence by verifying complete information, including by consulting experts, if any. Users shall be the sole owner of the decision taken, if any, about suitability of the same.

Standard Disclaimer

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.

Research Disclaimer

Broking services offered by Bajaj Financial Securities Limited (Bajaj Broking) | REG OFFICE: Bajaj Auto Limited Complex, Mumbai –Pune Road Akurdi Pune 411035. Corp. Office: Bajaj Broking., 1st Floor, Mantri IT Park, Tower B, Unit No 9 &10, Viman Nagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411014. SEBI Registration No.: INZ000218931 | BSE Cash/F&O/CDS (Member ID:6706) | NSE Cash/F&O/CDS (Member ID: 90177) | DP registration No: IN-DP-418-2019 | CDSL DP No.: 12088600 | NSDL DP No. IN304300 | AMFI Registration No.: ARN –163403.

Website: https://www.bajajbroking.in/

Research Services are offered by Bajaj Financial Securities Limited as Research Analyst under SEBI Registration No.: INH000010043.

Details of Compliance Officer: Ms. Kanti Pal (For Broking/DP/Research) | Email: compliance_sec@bajajfinserv.in/ Compliance_dp@bajajfinserv.in | Contact No.: 020-4857 4486 |

This content is for educational purpose only.

Investment in the securities involves risks, investor should consult his own advisors/consultant to determine the merits and risks of investment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the process of stock trading for beginners?


For novice traders, engaging in stock trading involves the following steps:

  1. Open a Demat account: Initiate by opening a Demat account with a registered depository participant to electronically hold your securities.
  2. Understand stock quotes: Acquaint yourself with stock quotes, which exhibit the current price and trading volume of a particular stock.
  3. Bids and asks: Grasp the concept of bids (buy orders) and asks (sell orders) to comprehend how trading occurs between buyers and sellers in the stock market.
  4. Fundamental and technical knowledge: Develop fundamental knowledge of stocks, such as company financials and industry trends, along with techniques in technical analysis to identify trading opportunities.
  5. Learn to stop the loss: Implement stop-loss orders to manage risk by automatically selling a stock if it reaches a predetermined price level.
  6. Ask an expert: Seek guidance from experienced traders or financial advisors to gain insights and strategies for successful stock trading.

These steps provide beginners with a structured approach to commencing their journey in stock trading.

What are the basic rules for day trading?

  1. Understand market trends and patterns.
  2. Use risk management strategies, like setting stop-loss orders.
  3. Focus on liquid assets with high volume.
  4. Keep emotions in check and stick to a trading plan.
  5. Limit the number of trades to manage risk.
  6. Constantly educate yourself on market dynamics and trading strategies.

Can a beginner start day trading?

Yes, beginners can start day trading with caution. However, it's crucial to thoroughly educate oneself, start with small investments, practice with a demo account, and gradually increase exposure. Understanding risk management, market analysis, and maintaining discipline are essential for beginners venturing into day trading. It's advisable to start with modest expectations and continuously learn from experiences and mistakes.

How can I start trading with Rs. 1000?

To start trading with Rs. 1000, open an account with a broker that has low fees and no minimum deposit. Focus on low-cost stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Educate yourself on market fundamentals and trading strategies to make informed decisions.

Is trading really profitable?

Trading can be profitable, but it requires knowledge, discipline, and risk management. Success depends on market understanding, strategy implementation, and emotional control. Many traders face losses, so it's essential to continuously learn and adapt.

Show More Show Less