Originally posted by michaelday
chauncey,
In my opinion, novice traders who don't have sufficient capital (25K) should concentrate more on multiday swing trading instead of pure daytrading. If you are allowed only 3 daytrades a week it is just not possible to daytrade and if this rule starts to be seriously implemented this is something that new undercapitalized traders will have to learn to live with. However multiday swing trading is viable trading option and with proper use of stop losses and trailing stops it is the next best thing.
Here is the problem. Suppose that you enter a swing trade on Monday and a stop loss is triggered. Then you enter another trade on Monday for which another stop loss is triggered. On Tue, the same thing happens twice again. On Wed, the same thing happens again. In short, you get stopped out on six swing trades within three trading days and GOOD BYE margin!
The biggest problem for under capitalized swing traders will be to obey stops for the fear that they will lose their margin buying power. How is this for additional risk?
I am not personally affected by this rule, but I am furious about it. The irony is that this law was fully supported by the online brokers. They saw dollar signs. Think about it, four to one margin means twice the buying power, which means a realistic 10%-30% increase in tickets, hmmm.
They made our(their) bed and now we(they) have to sleep in it. They cannot protest something they supported all hearty.
In Feb 2000 (I was only paper trading back then), I met with Bill Griffeth from CNBC, and I explained to him my point of view on the proposed "heaven-sent-to-traders" changes in margin regulations. This is what he told me, "Bill, the only way to protect the small investor is to take him out of the game completely, and I am all for it." He wouldn't give the time of day to explain nor invite me to his "power lunch" show.
The best skill I have is that I know people very well. I made a living as a private investigator. I know how the general person thinks and acts. There is nothing in this rule change that protects people from themselves. On the contrary, it just gives them more reasons to hurt themselves even more.
Bill