When entering the stockmarket, one of the first and most crucial decisions an investor or trader must make is choosing between intraday trading and positional trading. These two trading styles differ significantly in terms of strategies, time commitment, risk appetite, and even psychology. But which one aligns better with your personality?
Whether you’re browsing through stockmarket classes, attending share market courses, or learning by yourself, knowing these methods is important. Let’s discuss them and see what suits you.
Intraday trading, or day trading, is the trading of stocks during the same trading day. The aim is to profit from minor fluctuations in prices within trading hours.
Features of Intraday Trading:
- Trades are closed out before the market is closed.
- Needs constant observation of the sharemarket.
- Uses real-time charts, indicators, and trade strategies such as RSI, MACD, and candle patterns.
- Involves high risk and high returns usually.
Conversely, positional trading means keeping shares for days, weeks, or months. It is a more fundamental and long-term technical analysis strategy.
Traits of Positional Trading:
- Pays attention to medium and long-term trends of the price.
- Less stressful and does not need constant market watching.
- Suitable for individuals with a full-time schedule or short daily screen time.
- Typically involves lower risk than intraday but returns slowly.
Get real: your trading plan should suit your personality, not your Instagram feed.
Select Intraday Trading If:
- You are comfortable with tight deadlines.
- You love quick decisions.
- You are comfortable with high-risk exposures.
- You can give undivided attention during the market hours.
Select Positional Trading If:
- You are patient and have a long-term focus.
- You like fewer but well-analyzed trades.
- You have work, studies, or other everyday commitments.
You desire to accumulate wealth slowly and steadily
Before you go into either system, some general stock market advice for a beginner is applicable to both:
- Educate Yourself – Don’t blindly follow free YouTube tutorials. Take courses in share market.
- Use a Simulator – Train in a demo account before trading live.
- Control Emotions – Greed and fear are your worst enemies.
- Stick to a Strategy – Whether intraday or positional, stick to regular trading strategies.
- Track Your Trades – Keep a journal to learn from wins and losses.
Rohan is a college student with an affinity for charts. He likes to be hands-on and earns ₹1,000–₹1,500 per day with intraday trading techniques.
Priya, however, is a professional. She selects fundamentally strong stocks, holds them for 2–3 months, and earned steady profits with positional trading.
Both are profitable—because they picked what fits their personality
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the best trading method. It varies based on:
- Your lifestyle
- Your patience level
- Your control over emotions
- Your financial aims
Take a few minutes to review both routes through stock market courses or self-testing. Make small trades and watch your comfort zone before going full force.
The choice between positional trading and intraday trading isn’t financial—it’s personal. In the sharemarket sea, your success relies less on tips and more on knowing yourself.
Discover what suits your pace. Utilize actual data, study stockmarket courses, and listen to your instincts. If you’re looking for adrenaline-fueled day trades or peaceful, methodical long holds—see that your approach reflects your character.