Quote from lakka:
Summarizing some points against the PDT rule here:
Not adjusting to volatily.
The average daily range is 1/3 of what it was when the rule was enforced, yet the limit is still 25K.
The rule applies even if you are not daytrading
Example using a strategy with holding time from 1-15 days,
sample 10 trading days:
Day1 : Long 3 stocks , stopped out on 2 the same day.
Day2: New entry Long 1 and short 1. Stopped out on short.
Day3: Get 2 new signals, but ooops, PDT rule kicks in now if stopped, so no entry
Day4: No entries due to PDT
Day5: No entries due to PDT
Day6: Get signals on 3 stocks , but can only enter in 2 due to PDT, Not stopped out.
Day7: Enter 2 stock , stopped out 2.
Day8: Get signal on 3 stock but can only enter 1 due to PDT.
Day8: Get signal on 2 but make an error so selling instead of buying , correct this immediatly with minimum loss , cannot execute the next one due to PDT.
Day 9 : No entries due to PDT
Day10: No entries due to PDT.
10 trading days, 7 of them affected by the PDT rule , no daytrading, 5 stops and 1 error. Nothing unusual with the example.
So the the PDT rule will punish position traders using stops and correcting errors.
Not possible to start small
A trader that is learning cannot start small using 100 share sizes and building as he/she learns. But are forced to start with high leverage futures or forex.
Probably a good idea to create some kind of list with as much facts and clear examples as possible and ...ahem...stay out of the general political issues.