Welcome to Traders Against The Pattern Day Trader Rule!

Here is some history on the PDT Rule:

On February 27, 2001, the SEC approved rule changes proposed by the NYSE and FINRA (NASD) aimed at imposing more stringent margin requirements for day trading customers. Under these rules, customers who are deemed "pattern day traders" must have at least $25,000 in their accounts and can only trade in margin accounts.

Basic pattern day trader rule summary:

An NASD & SEC rule that applies to anyone who buys and sells a particular security in the same trading day (day trades), and does this four or more times in any five consecutive business day period. A pattern day trader is subject to special rules. The main rule is that in order to engage in pattern day trading you must maintain an equity balance of at least $25,000 in a margin account.

A more complete version is listed here: NASD Rule 2520

What is a day trade?:

It is important to understand what is considered a day trade under this rule. A day trade is when you buy and sell the same stock (same symbol) during the same day. This includes if you buy and sell during the pre-market, regular market hours, or in the after-market hours on the same day. A day trade is just a buy and sell (or short sell and buy to cover) of the same stock in one trading day.

What is not a day trade?:

If you open a stock position one day and hold it overnight and cover it the next day (or any subsequent day), that is an overnight trade. A trade held overnight is not considered a day trade in relation to this rule. There is no limits imposed on overnight trading, you can do this as often as you want.

Scope of the pattern day trader rule:

The pattern day trader rule applies to all brokers in the United States who are NASD members. There may be foreign brokers who are not directly regulated by NASD and offer pattern day trading to clients with less than $25,000 in their account.

This rule only applies to stock and option trading. There is no pattern day trading rule regulations currently on futures or forex.

How the PDT rule hurts small-account traders, and why the rule is illogical and unfair (Thanks James) :

1. The rule encourages traders to hold losing positions rather than take losses quickly. Thus, the PDT does not fulfill its purpose (to protect traders), and instead increases their risk
2. Overnight trades are riskier than day-trades. Overnight trades can gap up or gap down significantly, increasing potential losses. Thus, PDT does not fulfill its purpose (to protect traders), and instead increases their risk
3. The rule penalizes traders for taking losses quickly....hurting the trader rather than helping him.
4. If a small-account trader does 4 day trades, his account may be suspended, yet he has not committed a crime against anyone, and has not hurt anyone in any way
5. Commissions are low enough in today's trading world that frequent trading does not hurt a trader as it may have back when this rule was implemented.
6. A trader may have two accounts...one is $100K and the other is $20K. In one account, he is considered "sophisticated" enough to be day trading, yet not in the other account. This is illogical, for he is the same person.
7. People should be allowed to invest their money as they choose...whether that is in a day trade, or a long-term buy/hold.