Swing Trading >> Daytrading

[Nobert]

I like to work and work and work, from sun rise to sun set, moon rise to moon set,

Kudos.

Moments/periods, when one works up to his limits - meaningful life (by each ones definition) + best memories.

How many times do we have to have these kinds of debates? Whatever works for you and fits your personality is all that should matter.

It's inevitable, given the fact that the forums is a free place & new folks joins in.

 

[Andrew_87]

BOTH are workable actually.

but it is not workable for lazy traders who want to spend as little time as possible on computer screen.

I agree on that. It is not about the trading style alone, but how much you care to spend on practicing trading and analyzing markets. How refined you are as a trader, that matters a lot.

 

[trickshot]

Some market conditions favor day trades, others favor longer time frames. A good trader knows how to adapt to market conditions, there is no best time frame for profit maximization.

 

[vincentnyc]

This is my honest opinion, any day traders (If there is any successful ones) care to debate?

Daytrading may be better in terms of a smoother equity curve if done successfully,
but for long term pure returns, nothing beats swing trading.

It is way easier to lose money in daytrading when you overtrade and commission
eats to your profit, intraday movements are smaller compared to swing trading.
Thus, profits are smaller with more fees incurred. You really have to pick your spots
to have a meaningful trade. It is way easier to make mistakes in daytrading.

how long you been daytrading vs swing trading? how many years of experience do you have in term of trading? what did you trade? future, forex, bitcoins, stonks or what? answer those questions and i can answer your question.

 

[Evermore2017]

This is my honest opinion, any day traders (If there is any successful ones) care to debate?

Daytrading may be better in terms of a smoother equity curve if done successfully,
but for long term pure returns, nothing beats swing trading.

It is way easier to lose money in daytrading when you overtrade and commission
eats to your profit, intraday movements are smaller compared to swing trading.
Thus, profits are smaller with more fees incurred. You really have to pick your spots
to have a meaningful trade. It is way easier to make mistakes in daytrading.

Daytrading is better for me, I sleep better with no positions open

 

[ironchef]

Daytrading is better for me, I sleep better with no positions open

What about after a string of losing days with no positions open?

One poster posted a research that said most of the equity daily gains (average over decades) happened after hour (after market actions => opened gapped up/down) because most news that could affect equities were announced pre or post market, seldom during. You won't catch those daily gains?

 

[KCalhoun]

What about after a string of losing days with no positions open?

One poster posted a research that said most of the equity daily gains (average over decades) happened after hour (after market actions => opened gapped up/down) because most news that could affect equities were announced pre or post market, seldom during. You won't catch those daily gains?

True but works both ways when gaps against you. Swingtrading solution is to start small, then scale into larger positions over days if it trends in your favor.

I do both but prefer daytrading current markets. With big moves premkt I often enter starting 7AM and close later that day. Gap reversals are common.

 

[deaddog]

What about after a string of losing days with no positions open?

What about them? They are part of trading. You still sleep better knowing that your account balance will be the same regardless of what happens overnight.

You can only control what you do, not what the market does.

 

[easymon1]

What about after a string of losing days with no positions open?

One poster posted a research that said most of the equity daily gains (average over decades) happened after hour (after market actions => opened gapped up/down) because most news that could affect equities were announced pre or post market, seldom during. You won't catch those daily gains?

after market actions => opened gapped up/down
You won't catch those daily gains?

For my money, there's no reason to miss after market action as a 'day' trader.
Why can not day trading happen at night too?

Given a definition for Swing Trading = Swing trading = one or more days
and Day Trading as = "Intra-Sessional open to close duration",
good ol' Day Trading can take place at 'night'.

Market opens and closes can require special treatment, but Other than getting used to the rhythm of after hours, it is all the same and sometimes easier than working that periodically spaz nq day session.

A prudent day trader would do some serious perusal of the last half hour of the main session of the index futures before walking that minefield. If you think trading is rigged, you ain't seen nuttin' compared to that last furlong, imho. I will trade it on rare occasion IF a Very Probable setup appears with a backstop that's so tight it squeaks. That bad boy can do some very unpredictable extended gyrations then.

Second in the 'danger' dept. in my books is that first 15 minutes of the index futures.

Good intra session trades can happen at any time around the clock, and often do.
people are trading to create those gaps. Why not help them out, pitch in a little.

 

[KCalhoun]

after market actions => opened gapped up/down
You won't catch those daily gains?

For my money, there's no reason to miss after market action as a 'day' trader.
Why can not day trading happen at night too?

Given a definition for Swing Trading = Swing trading = one or more days
and Day Trading as = "Intra-Sessional open to close duration",
good ol' Day Trading can take place at 'night'.

Market opens and closes can require special treatment, but Other than getting used to the rhythm of after hours, it is all the same and sometimes easier than working that periodically spaz nq day session.

A prudent day trader would do some serious perusal of the last half hour of the main session of the index futures before walking that minefield. If you think trading is rigged, you ain't seen nuttin' compared to that last furlong, imho. I will trade it on rare occasion IF a Very Probable setup appears with a backstop that's so tight it squeaks. That bad boy can do some very unpredictable extended gyrations then.

Second in the 'danger' dept. in my books is that first 15 minutes of the index futures.

Good intra session trades can happen at any time around the clock, and often do.
people are trading to create those gaps. Why not help them out, pitch in a little.

Good points. Seems gap and premkt price action has been unusual the last few months. S&P often reverses, small caps run up premkt then drop in-market etc....

Lots of premkt gap plays, tough to trade though