Intraday Trading: Meaning, How to Start, Benefits, Risks

Intraday trading, also known as day trading, is a form of trading where positions are opened and closed within the same trading day. Unlike long-term investing, which focuses on holding assets for extended periods, intraday trading seeks to take advantage of short-term price movements in various financial markets. While it can be highly rewarding, it also comes with its fair share of risks and challenges. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the basics of intraday trading, including strategies, intraday trading tips, and the risks involved.

Intraday trading differs from other trading styles in terms of the timeframe and the strategies employed. While long-term investors aim to build wealth over an extended period, intraday traders seek to generate quick profits within hours or even minutes. This requires them to constantly monitor the market and make swift decisions.

Basics of Intraday Trading

To embark on a successful intraday trading journey, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of its core principles. Intraday traders focus on short-term price movements rather than long-term trends. They typically rely on technical analysis, which involves studying price charts, patterns, and intraday trading indicators to identify potential trading opportunities. It is essential to learn how to read and interpret charts and understand various technical analysis tools, such as moving averages, oscillators, and support and resistance levels.

For intraday trading, a trader needs to specify the stocks to mention 'intraday' trading. It will enable the user to buy & sell the same number of shares before the end of the trading session. And in case you forget to close your position, then you can convert it to delivery trade or else the broker will automatically.  

Essential Tools for Intraday Trading 

a) Candlestick charts

Traders can identify key patterns, such as doji, hammer, engulfing, and shooting star, to make informed trading decisions.

b) Indicators

Technical indicators, such as Relative Strength Index (RSI), Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), and Bollinger Bands, help traders spot potential entry and exit points by analysing historical price data.

How to do Intraday Trading?

As you know Intraday trading meaning, which involves buying and selling securities within the same trading day, and the goal of profiting from short-term price movements.

To do intraday trading you need to Open a demat account and trading account with a broker such as BlinkX. And then follow these points:

Choose an intraday trading strategy that fits your style - scalping, momentum, breakout etc.

Identify stocks: To do intraday trading you need good liquidity, volatility and volume.

Plan: Learn technical analysis to identify entry and exit points.

Trade: Place intraday buy/sell orders during market hours based on your strategy.

Use stop-loss:  Use stop-loss orders to control losses. Book profits at target levels.Square off all positions before the share market closes. No overnight trades.

Analyse:  You need to review performance daily and refine your trading strategy. You can start with small gains. Keep practising regularly to get better.

The key is to have a trading plan, manage risk smartly and analyse your trades regularly to improve. Start small and keep practising.

Intraday Trading Strategies 

a) Momentum trading 

This strategy focuses on identifying stocks with significant price momentum. Traders look for stocks that are making strong moves with high trading volumes and aim to ride the momentum for quick profits.

b) Breakout trading

Breakout traders seek to identify key price levels, such as support and resistance, and enter positions when the price breaks through these levels. Breakouts can signal potential trend reversals or the continuation of an existing trend.

c) Scalping

Traders using this strategy Usually have a high win-to-loss ratio but rely on small gains to accumulate profits.

d) Pullback trading

 Pullback traders wait for a temporary price retracement within an ongoing trend before entering a trade. This strategy aims to capitalise on the continuation of the underlying trend after the pullback.

Key Principles of Intraday Trading 

To engage in successful intraday trading, it is essential to understand and adhere to some key principles:

Timeframes and trading plans

Intraday traders operate within short timeframes, usually minutes or hours, and must have a well-defined trading plan. This plan outlines the entry and exit points, risk management strategies, and overall trading strategy.

Technical analysis

Traders use various technical indicators, such as moving averages, trend lines, and oscillators, to identify potential trading opportunities and make informed decisions.

Volatility and volume

Intraday traders seek markets with sufficient volatility and volume. Volatility allows for price movements that can be capitalised upon, while volume ensures liquidity and ease of executing trades.

Risk management

Effective risk management is vital in intraday trading. Traders should determine their risk tolerance, set stop-loss orders to limit potential losses, and practise proper position sizing to protect their capital.

Risk Management in Intraday Trading 

Successful intraday trading requires effective risk management strategies to protect capital and minimise losses. Some important risk management techniques include:

a)  Setting stop-loss orders

 A stop-loss order is an instruction placed with a broker to sell a security if it reaches a specific predetermined price level. Placing a stop-loss order helps traders control risk and avoid emotional decision-making

b) Using proper position sizing

Traders should determine the appropriate position size based on their risk tolerance and the size of their trading account. This ensures that a single trade does not pose a significant risk to their overall portfolio.

c) Applying risk-reward ratio

The risk-reward ratio is the ratio between the potential profit of a trade and its potential loss. Traders should aim for a favourable risk-reward ratio, such as 1:2 or higher, to ensure that winning trades outweigh losing trades in the long run.

Benefits of Intraday Trading

After knowing the basics of intraday, here are some of the main benefits of intraday trading:

Start with Lower Capital:  Intraday trading requires lower capital than delivery trading as there is no need to carry overnight positions. This allows one to start trading with a relatively smaller account size.

High Returns: Well-researched and disciplined intraday trading strategies can provide higher returns through frequent trading and capturing small price movements throughout the day. 

Utilises Volatility:  Intraday traders aim to profit from price volatility and fluctuations observed within a single trading session. Intraday trading suits volatile markets.

Exciting and Fast-Paced: Intraday trading is fast-paced and exciting as traders look to profit from real-time price fluctuations throughout the trading session.

Risk Management: Stop-losses can be placed for intraday trades. Positions can also be squared off within the same day.

Lower Transaction Costs: As only day trading is involved, it leads to fewer total transactions compared to delivery trading. Hence, lower overall trading costs.

Develops Technical Skills: Intraday trading helps develop technical analysis skills as it relies heavily on studying price charts, indicators and patterns.

As you understand intraday benefits, meaning & how to do it. It's time to understand some negative points of intraday trading.

Disadvantages of Intraday Trading

Here are some potential drawbacks or risks of doing intraday trading:

Requires constant monitoring: Intraday traders need to actively track stock prices and news that may impact movements. This can be time-consuming.

Volatility: Intraday traders are exposed to volatile hourly or minute-by-minute price fluctuations that can quickly lead to losses.

Overtrading: The ease of entering and exiting positions can tempt intraday traders to overtrade, making unnecessary trades.

Mental fatigue: The need for alertness and quick decisions can take a mental toll over time. Monitoring charts all day can be exhausting for traders.

Scattershot approach: Intraday trading often relies more on instincts than detailed research. This scattered approach tends to have low win rates. 

Potential losses: Despite best efforts, trades can quickly turn unprofitable due to unexpected market swings. Losses can exceed capital.

No investment: Intraday trading involves speculating on price movements rather than investing based on fundamentals.

Overall, intraday trading requires discipline, vigilance, and risk tolerance.Traders should be aware of these potential drawbacks before pursuing intraday trade.

Conclusion

Intraday trading is an exciting and potentially lucrative endeavour, but it requires a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to navigate the dynamic nature of the markets successfully. 

Understanding what intraday trading is crucial for individuals looking to actively buy and sell financial instruments within the same trading day to profit from short-term price fluctuations. Now you can Unlock your trading potential with blinkX trading platform and gain an edge in the fast-paced world of intraday trading.

Download the blinkX stock trading app on your smartphone and start trading in a hassle-free environment. You can also get quick updates from the BlinkX app about the financial market.