Intraday trading is a type of trading where a trader buys and sells a financial instrument within the same trading day, closing all positions before the market closes for the day. Intraday trading is also known as day trading, and it is done during regular business hours. The term "intraday" is used to describe securities like common stock or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are traded over the course of a single day during normal trading hours. Intraday trading is different from interday trading, where a trader buys shares in a security and holds that position overnight after the markets have closed.
Intraday trading is popular among traders who want to benefit from short-term price fluctuations. The most significant benefit of intraday trading is that positions are not affected by the possibility of negative overnight news that has the potential to impact the price of securities materially. Intraday trading offers several other key advantages, including the ability to use tight stop-loss orders, the ability to earn profits from capital appreciation gains, and the ability to recover total financial resources invested quickly at any time.
Intraday trading requires fast trade execution, and direct-access day trading software is often needed. There are different types of intraday strategies used by traders, including scalping, range trading, and news-based trading. Intraday trading is a risky activity, and traders should only invest what they can afford to lose. It is recommended to trade only a few scripts at a time and to use intraday trading indicators to make informed decisions.