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Daytrading:
High profits with quick AI-trading and Backtest

Daytrading refers to short-term trading in financial instruments such as stocks, currencies, commodities or cryptocurrencies within a single trading day. The aim is to profit from small price movements by opening and closing positions within a few minutes or hours. This is why this approach is particularly suitable for future contracts. It requires a high level of concentration, disciplined strategies and in-depth knowledge of the market. In recent months, AI-supported daytrading has also been observed more and more frequently, which offers various advantages.

Daytrading is often seen as a job or a side job that offers direct access to the financial markets. Many traders are attracted by the idea of ​​making their own decisions and making profits independently of traditional working hours. However, a realistic understanding of the risks and challenges is crucial to long-term success. A good trading strategy, which is created and refined using constant backtesting, is also essential. The quality of the market replay data used is crucial here; it must be able to reproduce the trading process of the last few years in complete depth and “tick by tick“.

See also: Cheap market data for AI training

The Basics of Daytrading

Daytrading is fundamentally different from long-term investing. Traders focus on technical analysis, volume movements and short-term trends to make trading decisions. Some important elements include:

Market selection

Daytraders often specialize in certain markets, such as the forex market, stocks or cryptocurrencies, to deepen their expertise. Each market offers different advantages and challenges, be it liquidity, volatility or trading hours.

Tools and technology

Day traders use specialized trading platforms, real-time charts and indicators such as moving averages, RSI (Relative Strength Index) or MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence). Choosing the right software can have a big impact on the efficiency and accuracy of trading. Some platforms

A screenshot of a trading software with lots of information for Future Bitcoin trading

Psychology

Emotions such as fear and greed can significantly influence a trader’s decisions. Successful traders develop discipline and a clear set of rules to minimize emotional reactions.

Strategies

Common strategies include scalping (making many small profits through quick trades), momentum trading (taking advantage of strong price movements), breakout trading (trading when resistance or support levels are broken), and reversal trading (trading when trends reverse).

Risk management

One of the most important rules in daytrading is setting stop-loss orders to limit losses. Many traders also use what is known as position size management to limit the risk per trade to a small percentage of total capital. Solid risk management is the key to remaining successful even in turbulent market phases.

A stylized image with bull and bear in front of a stock market world, symbolizing the opportunities of a trading strategy through backtesting and market replay

Challenges and Risks

Daytrading is not an easy way to get rich quick. It carries significant risks, including:

  • Emotional strain: Constantly monitoring prices and the need to make quick decisions can be stressful. Many traders report high levels of pressure caused by losses or missed opportunities.
  • Risk of loss: High leverage, which many day traders use, can lead to significant losses. A sudden market drop can have a negative impact in a split second.
  • Costs: Transaction costs such as fees and spreads can significantly reduce profits, especially when many trades are made within a day.

Despite the challenges, daytrading is an intriguing way for many to actively participate in the market and potentially make high profits. However, successful traders invest a lot of time in preparation, testing strategies and constantly learning to improve their skills.

Important Tips for Beginners in Daytrading

For beginners, it is crucial to start with a clear plan and realistic expectations. Here are some tried and tested tips:

  • Keep a journal: Document your trades to learn from successes and mistakes.
  • Use demo accounts: Many trading platforms offer free demo accounts to test strategies risk-free.
  • Use small capital: Start with a small amount that you are willing to lose.
  • Educate: Read professional books, take courses and follow news to better understand the market.
  • Backtest: Check and evaluate your strategy every day with the latest trading data
A person who gives tips for using Level2 tick data in daytrading

Automated Daytrading with Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The integration of artificial intelligence into daytrading has revolutionized the way many traders trade. Automated trading systems powered by AI offer new ways to identify market opportunities and execute trades more efficiently.

Automated trading systems rely on algorithms that analyze market data, identify trends, and make trading decisions. AI-powered systems take this to the next level by using machine learning to learn from historical data and adapt to changing market conditions. The main components are:

  1. Data analysis: AI systems can process large amounts of data in real time, including price movements, news, and social media.
  2. Model development: Machine learning is used to train models that recognize patterns and anomalies in the market data.
  3. Automated execution: Once a trading opportunity has been identified, the system can execute trades without human intervention.
  4. Adaptability: AI systems dynamically adapt to new market conditions and continuously improve their prediction accuracy.
An ascending stock market trend with an arrow at the end that illustrates the success of AI trading, in the background many numbers

Benefits of AI-powered trading

Speed: AI systems can analyze data and make decisions within milliseconds.

Emotionless trading: Unlike human traders, AI systems are not influenced by fear or greed.

24/7 availability: Automated systems can trade around the clock, especially in global markets such as forex or cryptocurrencies.

Scalability: AI systems can monitor multiple markets and strategies simultaneously.

Challenges and risks

Despite their advantages, AI-based trading systems are not without risks:

  • Data quality: The accuracy of an AI system depends on the quality of the training data. Bad data can lead to incorrect decisions.
  • System failures: Technical problems can lead to losses, especially when there is no human supervision.
  • Market risks: Unpredictable events such as geopolitical crises or sudden liquidity shortages cannot be predicted by AI either.
Hands writing notes on paper to identify the challenges in AI trading
An artificial head with networked lines that operates with AI support in future daytrading, a stock market chart in the background

Examples of the use of AI in daytrading

High-frequency trading (HFT): Companies like Renaissance Technologies use AI to identify market opportunities in microseconds.

Robo-advisors: Platforms like Betterment or Wealthfront offer automated investment strategies that increasingly rely on AI.

Sentiment analysis: AI systems analyze news and social media to assess market sentiment and make trading decisions based on it.

Conclusion

Daytrading and automated daytrading with AI offer a fascinating mix of opportunities and challenges. For traditional day traders, the focus is on knowledge, discipline and a clear trading plan to succeed in an often unpredictable environment. Automated trading systems and AI-powered approaches greatly expand these opportunities by offering speed, efficiency and precise analysis. Nevertheless, traders should be aware that neither manual nor AI-assisted trading is a guarantee of success.

The future of trading is expected to be characterized by an even closer connection between humans and machines. While AI systems are becoming more and more powerful, human intuition remains an indispensable component, especially when interpreting market dynamics that go beyond purely quantitative data. For anyone looking to get involved in this field, education, continuous learning and solid preparation are essential to overcome the challenges of the market and take full advantage of the opportunities. Ultimately, trading is an art that requires both technique and creativity to succeed in an ever-changing world.