Sorry Baron (or whoever moved the thread...wasn't sure where to put it)
And TL...OK, so I think I've got it now...this still changes things for me because initially, I was under the impression that within a 5 day period I could only make a total of 3 on-way trades (which seemed stupid, but then I don't make the rules) then I thought that it was a total of 3 roundtrip trades. Then I thought that if I made 3 'daytrades' on the first day, I would then be able to 'swing' trade for the rest of the period and be fine...but NOW, I finally see that I'd better be careful on where/when I use those day trades because if on the first day I make 3, then I'm done for the rest of the week...regardless.
OK, yup, think I got it....and its nice to know I'm not the only one with trouble understanding this. Now another question which may or may not have anything to do with this rule, but as far as shorting stocks....do the same rules apply?
And TL...OK, so I think I've got it now...this still changes things for me because initially, I was under the impression that within a 5 day period I could only make a total of 3 on-way trades (which seemed stupid, but then I don't make the rules) then I thought that it was a total of 3 roundtrip trades. Then I thought that if I made 3 'daytrades' on the first day, I would then be able to 'swing' trade for the rest of the period and be fine...but NOW, I finally see that I'd better be careful on where/when I use those day trades because if on the first day I make 3, then I'm done for the rest of the week...regardless.
OK, yup, think I got it....and its nice to know I'm not the only one with trouble understanding this. Now another question which may or may not have anything to do with this rule, but as far as shorting stocks....do the same rules apply?
Quote from TL Trader:
Yes at that point on Thursday you would still have 1 day trade left for that 5 day period. You used 1 on Monday (MSFT) and 1 on Wednesday (CSCO).
I think you got it now and your not the first to have trouble understanding the PDT.