Day Trading

  1. Market Structure and Instruments
    1. Understanding Market Mechanics
      1. Market Participants
        1. Retail Traders
          1. Individual Investor Characteristics
            1. Typical Trading Patterns
            2. Institutional Investors
              1. Mutual Funds and Pension Funds
                1. Hedge Fund Strategies
                2. Market Makers
                  1. Liquidity Provision Role
                    1. Bid-Ask Spread Management
                    2. High-Frequency Traders
                      1. Algorithmic Trading Impact
                        1. Speed Advantages
                      2. Order Flow Dynamics
                        1. Bid-Ask Spread Mechanics
                          1. Spread Components
                            1. Spread Variations by Instrument
                            2. Market Depth Analysis
                              1. Level 2 Order Book
                                1. Depth of Market Interpretation
                                2. Order Book Dynamics
                                  1. Order Imbalances
                                    1. Hidden Liquidity
                                    2. Slippage Factors
                                      1. Market Impact Costs
                                        1. Execution Quality
                                      2. Market Types and Structure
                                        1. Auction Markets
                                          1. NYSE Specialist System
                                            1. Opening and Closing Auctions
                                            2. Dealer Markets
                                              1. NASDAQ Market Maker System
                                                1. Multiple Market Makers
                                                2. Electronic Communication Networks
                                                  1. ECN Advantages
                                                    1. Direct Market Access
                                                3. Financial Instruments for Day Trading
                                                  1. Stocks and Equities
                                                    1. Common Stock Characteristics
                                                      1. Voting Rights
                                                        1. Dividend Considerations
                                                        2. Preferred Stock Features
                                                          1. Fixed Dividend Payments
                                                            1. Conversion Options
                                                            2. Stock Identification Systems
                                                              1. Ticker Symbols
                                                                1. CUSIP Numbers
                                                                2. Sector Classifications
                                                                  1. Technology Stocks
                                                                    1. Financial Sector
                                                                      1. Healthcare Sector
                                                                        1. Energy Sector
                                                                      2. Exchange-Traded Funds
                                                                        1. Index ETFs
                                                                          1. S&P 500 Tracking
                                                                            1. Broad Market Exposure
                                                                            2. Sector-Specific ETFs
                                                                              1. Industry Concentration
                                                                                1. Thematic Investing
                                                                                2. Leveraged ETFs
                                                                                  1. 2x and 3x Leverage
                                                                                    1. Daily Reset Mechanics
                                                                                    2. Inverse ETFs
                                                                                      1. Short Market Exposure
                                                                                        1. Hedging Applications
                                                                                      2. Options Trading
                                                                                        1. Call Options
                                                                                          1. Right to Buy
                                                                                            1. Bullish Strategies
                                                                                            2. Put Options
                                                                                              1. Right to Sell
                                                                                                1. Bearish Strategies
                                                                                                2. Option Pricing Factors
                                                                                                  1. Intrinsic Value
                                                                                                    1. Time Value
                                                                                                      1. Implied Volatility
                                                                                                      2. The Greeks
                                                                                                        1. Delta Sensitivity
                                                                                                          1. Gamma Acceleration
                                                                                                            1. Theta Time Decay
                                                                                                              1. Vega Volatility Impact
                                                                                                            2. Futures Contracts
                                                                                                              1. Contract Specifications
                                                                                                                1. Underlying Assets
                                                                                                                  1. Contract Sizes
                                                                                                                    1. Delivery Months
                                                                                                                    2. Margin Requirements
                                                                                                                      1. Initial Margin
                                                                                                                        1. Maintenance Margin
                                                                                                                          1. Mark-to-Market
                                                                                                                          2. Settlement Procedures
                                                                                                                            1. Physical Delivery
                                                                                                                              1. Cash Settlement
                                                                                                                                1. Contract Expiration
                                                                                                                              2. Foreign Exchange Markets
                                                                                                                                1. Major Currency Pairs
                                                                                                                                  1. EUR/USD Characteristics
                                                                                                                                    1. GBP/USD Trading
                                                                                                                                      1. USD/JPY Patterns
                                                                                                                                      2. Minor Currency Pairs
                                                                                                                                        1. Cross-Currency Trading
                                                                                                                                          1. Exotic Pair Considerations
                                                                                                                                          2. Forex Market Structure
                                                                                                                                            1. Pip Value Calculations
                                                                                                                                              1. Lot Size Standards
                                                                                                                                                1. Spread Variations
                                                                                                                                              2. Cryptocurrency Trading
                                                                                                                                                1. Major Cryptocurrencies
                                                                                                                                                  1. Bitcoin Trading Characteristics
                                                                                                                                                    1. Ethereum Market Dynamics
                                                                                                                                                    2. Altcoin Considerations
                                                                                                                                                      1. Volatility Patterns
                                                                                                                                                        1. Liquidity Concerns
                                                                                                                                                        2. Crypto Exchange Features
                                                                                                                                                          1. 24/7 Trading
                                                                                                                                                            1. Regulatory Considerations
                                                                                                                                                        3. Broker Selection and Setup
                                                                                                                                                          1. Broker Categories
                                                                                                                                                            1. Direct Access Brokers
                                                                                                                                                              1. Professional Trading Features
                                                                                                                                                                1. Advanced Order Types
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Level 2 Data Access
                                                                                                                                                                  2. Retail Discount Brokers
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Simplified Interfaces
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Lower Cost Structure
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Limited Day Trading Features
                                                                                                                                                                      2. Selection Criteria
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Commission Structures
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Per-Trade Pricing
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Per-Share Pricing
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Hidden Fee Analysis
                                                                                                                                                                              2. Platform Capabilities
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Charting Tools Quality
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Order Execution Speed
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Research Integration
                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Execution Quality
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Order Routing Practices
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Fill Quality Metrics
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. System Reliability
                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Regulatory Compliance
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. FINRA Registration
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. SEC Oversight
                                                                                                                                                                                                1. SIPC Protection
                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Customer Service
                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Technical Support Quality
                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Trading Desk Access
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Educational Resources