Frequently Asked Questions on Intraday Trading

Day trading involves various investment techniques and multiple aspects. The following are some things to remember in day trading for new investors.

• Try and avoid trading in highly volatile markets. It is better to invest in markets whose prices movements are predictable.
• Decide your risk to reward ratio before placing the order and stick to it throughout the duration of the trade.
• Since intraday trading tends to be risky, you should always trade intraday with a stop loss to minimise your losses.
• Conduct technical and fundamental analysis of securities before trading them.
• Do not forget to decide the entry and exit levels of trades before placing your orders.

The following are the basic intraday trading tips for beginners.

• Pick the right market: Always pick the market you understand—whether equity, commodity or currency.
• Pick right security: Choose a stock or a commodity which has high liquidity. You also need to be aware of any news triggers for the selected security to make a profitable trade.
• Fix entry/exit price beforehand: Before you process your order, decide at what price you want to enter the trade. This will help you reduce mistakes. Similarly, always exit trade once price reaches the target.
• Have a stop loss: If the price is not moving according to your prediction, having a stop loss cuts your losses before it becomes too big. Always exit your trade one stop loss is breached.
• Get the timing right: Pick a suitable time to trade. Early in the day and in the last hour, volatility is very high. For beginners, trading around the noon can be best time to trade. Diversify: Never put all eggs in a single basket. Trade with a small portion of your capital or bet on more than one security. Then, in case one trade goes bad, you won't lose your entire capital.
• Learn to read charts: Most trading is done after doing a technical analysis of a security. It is better to have a basic understanding of common charts and patterns to make a profitable trade.

There are many interesting things to know about stock market in India, like:

• Most shares in India are traded on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.
• The BSE is Asia's fastest online share trading platform and boasts the most number of companies listed on the exchange.
• The Sensex is the benchmark index of the BSE and comprises the top 30 stocks in terms of market capitalisation.
• The Nifty50 is the benchmark index of the NSE and comprises the top 50 stocks in terms of free-float market capitalisation.
• There are several other stock exchanges in India, and most of them are highly liquid, with millions of participants. The most popular are BSE and National Stock Exchange, both based in Mumbai.

A stock market is a marketplace to buy and sell various financial instruments such as equities, bonds, and derivatives. You can only make transactions in the stock market through brokers. It is crucial to know how stock market works before you begin your investment journey.

The price of a security listed on a stock exchange (BSE or NSE) is decided by its demand and supply in the market. The broker places orders on the stock exchange on your behalf. Further, the stock exchange looks for buyers and sellers at a price pre-defined by you. Once the exchange finds the right match, your order is executed. The security acquired or sold by you is stored in a DEMAT account. It takes t+2 days for the security to reach your DEMAT account.

There are many benefits of stock investment. Such as,

• Investing in stocks can help you get inflation-adjusted returns higher than those offered by traditional cash deposits and bank FDs (Fixed Deposits).
• Another advantage of stock investments is that you can earn regular dividend income by including the equities of various companies in your investment portfolio. As such, you can generate passive income.
• Shares also provide better liquidity when compared to other traditional investment options.
• The stock market allows you to be in complete control of your investments. It provides you with complete freedom to build your portfolio and generate returns.

The stock market is a place that allows buyers and sellers of a particular security to negotiate a price and trade money for the shares of the said asset. Here are a few vital share market basics for beginners.

• Create a diversified investment portfolio. Putting your entire capital in one stock or sector is risky. For example, if you have invested your entire portfolio in a single metal stock, in case of any bad news for the sector or the company, you may be staring at a massive loss. It is always wise to diversify across sectors and even assets like gold, real estate or bank deposits. Never put your entire capital in equities.
• Do both technical and fundamental analysis before making an investment decision. You should only invest after thoroughly researching about the security and its past trends.
• Only invest the money that you can afford to lose. Avoid investing in the share market using borrowed funds.
• Minimise your losses using the stop loss facility. Do not hold positions and hope for a reversal. Set the stop loss limit and reduce your potential for losses.

Intraday trading involves taking advantage of the price fluctuations of stocks by opening trade positions, according to the trend. There is no exchange of securities and delivery taken or provided. Now, to be able to do volume-based trading to enhance your gains, you will be required to put in big capital for each session. This may not always be feasible and can make you miss out on lucrative opportunities.

Intraday trading margin is a facility that allows you to take positions on stocks that would have been beyond your financial means. Intraday margin is the fund loaned to you by the broker, to continue trading in large volumes.

By day trading on margin, you can take advantage of the surplus amount offered by the broker to take substantially bigger positions and aim to maximise your profits. Usually, the margin facility is offered by brokers in lieu of the shares as collateral. Eventually, you will need to repay the amount borrowed and the interest applicable on it, to square off your accounts.

Intraday trading, while being quite lucrative, can also be a risky proposition for those who are either not experienced enough or prepared enough. Here are some guidelines and rules for intraday trading that will help you to maximise your gains while minimising your losses and risk exposure.

• One of the key day trading rules is to identify two or three large-cap stocks that are highly liquid and show signs of volatility. Liquid and predictably volatile stocks will help you benefit from price movements, and it is easy to sell such shares off in the market.
• Conduct a thorough search plus technical and fundamental analysis of each security before trading them. Understanding charts and other stock indicators is an essential skill for a day trader.
• Always set your entry and exit price points beforehand. This also includes deciding your risk-to-reward ratio before placing the order. As far as possible, stick to the pre-decided strategy throughout the duration of the trade.
• Another important intraday rule is to manage your risks by using Stop Loss (SL) for each order you place to reduce your loss exposure.
• Timing the market and diversification are useful as well. Usually, when the market opens and closes, the volatility is at its highest. If you are just starting out, mid-day might be a more stable time for you to trade. Furthermore, diversify across sectors and segments. Finally, start small and gradually increase your exposure after gaining more experience and confidence.

The Indian stock exchanges open at 09:15 AM and close at 15:30 PM. Since the daily window is so small, timing your trades is a vital part of successful intraday trading.

There is no fixed best time frame for intraday trading. As an intraday trader, you need to continuously monitor the market movements to make the right moves. However, there are certain times that can be considered the best time for intraday trading. This is when the markets usually show an upswing. Many traders consider the windows of 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM or 13:00 PM to 14:30 PM as the best time for intraday trading. Do note, this is not a rule but just an observation. You should carefully consider the movements of the stock you’re monitoring and trade as per your strategy irrespective of the time of the day.

It will be difficult to quantify the maximum profit in intraday trading that you can make before you start trading. While day trading profits can be quite lucrative, the losses can get amplified as well, if the market doesn’t move as per your expectations. Many people make thousands of rupees as intraday profits, some are reported to make lakhs even. You, too, can make profits in intraday trading if you make large volume calls, (the higher the margin, the more profits you can earn), have a high-risk appetite, and have the necessary experience and expertise in using the tools for technical analysis of stocks.

Before starting day trading, you must clearly define your strategy, thoroughly research the stocks you wish to trade in, and regularly monitor their movements. Risk management plays a critical role here. Using features such as Stop Loss orders, you can reduce your losses to avoid them from cutting away into your overall day trading profit.

The profits earned from intraday trading are deemed speculative business income. Therefore, intraday trading profit is taxable under the income head of 'Profits and Gains from Business and Profession'. Had you taken delivery of the securities, the Capital Gains Tax would have been levied, but in intraday trading there is no ownership and all positions are squared off.

For filing the returns for taxation on intraday trading, you will need to fill the form ITR-3; based on the tax regime that you choose (old vs new) and the tax slab you fall under in the regime opted for. Based on your earnings, if it is estimated that your payable tax (for the financial year) is above Rs.10,000, then you will be required to pay advance tax on the dates specified by the Income Tax Department which is usually the middle of the last month of each quarter of the year.

Knowing how to pick the best stocks for intraday trading increases your chance of success and making regular profits. However, this is easier than done. Picking the best stocks for intraday trading requires careful analysis and consideration of various factors. Here are some steps you can follow to identify potential stocks to trade in intraday:

• Conduct thorough research and analysis of the stock market. Stay updated with the latest financial news, company announcements, and industry trends using reliable sources.
• Implement technical analysis to study stock price patterns, trends, and indicators. Use charts, moving averages, oscillators, and other technical tools to identify potential entry and exit points.
• Focus on highly liquid stocks that are actively traded with high trading volumes and tight bid-ask spreads. Higher liquidity ensures that you can easily enter and exit positions without significant price impact.
• Identify stocks that exhibit regular price fluctuations and avoid stocks that are too stable or lack sufficient volatility to generate price movements and profit opportunities.
• It is also essential to consider the fundamental aspects of a company such as earnings reports, financial ratios, and management quality, to gauge the stock's overall health and potential.

Remember, stock market trading involves risks, and there is no guaranteed formula for success. It is crucial to develop a trading plan, maintain discipline, and continuously refine your approach based on market conditions and personal experience. Consider consulting with your broker or a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Intraday trading is a high-pressure activity where time is of the essence, and you need all the help you can get. Technical tools offer a variety of benefits and help traders make informed decisions. There are several useful intraday trading indicators used by traders to understand market trends and movements, the momentum and degree of volatility, the and the potential to profit from them. It is difficult to pinpoint any one as the best intraday indicator. However, here are some of the most popular ones:

• Daily Moving Averages (DMA)
• Momentum Oscillators
• Relative Strength Index (RSI)
• Bollinger Bands

To be a successful intraday trader, you should read up on these tools and learn to use them effectively.