🟥 Day Trader vs. 🟩 Swing Trader
Feature 🟥 Day Trader 🟩 Swing Trader
⏰ Timeframe Holds positions for minutes to hours (intraday only) Holds positions for several days to weeks
🔁 Trade Frequency Makes many trades per day Makes fewer trades per week
🎯 Goal Capture small intraday price movements Capture short- to medium-term price swings
⚙️ Strategy Uses technical analysis, chart patterns, Level 2 data Uses technical + some fundamental analysis, trend following
💥 Risk Level High risk due to leverage and quick decisions Moderate risk, but includes overnight exposure
💵 Capital Needed Often needs $25,000+ (due to PDT rule in the U.S.) Can start with lower capital, no PDT rule
🧠 Skills Required Needs fast decision-making, real-time monitoring Needs patience, trend identification skills
📉 Stop Loss Tight stop losses, small losses per trade Wider stops, allows for normal market volatility
🕵️♂️ Monitoring Requires full-time attention Can be part-time, check markets once/twice a day
😰 Stress Level High stress, quick reactions needed Lower stress, decisions are more deliberate
👤 Best For Active, experienced traders with time to monitor all day Busy individuals or part-timers who can wait for the right setup.