That's not true at all. Even if I have one billion, thanks to various regulations and rules, I still can not trade unlimited in terms of amount. I think I might need to clarify a little: If you have <$25k and you day trade too many times, you get restricted. But if you have >$25k, and day trade too much (too much $), you get a day trade call. This a quote from the broker's education material: "If you are issued a Day Trade (DT) call, it can only be met by a new deposit in your account. You cannot close positions to meet a day trade call." We don't want that to happen, especially when you don't have extra cash to make a deposit.
Yes, absolutely. You can sell that first 5K of A. But you will have to keep the second 5K overnight. And I'm pretty sure... but check with your broker's margin dept... that once you sell that first 5K... you then again have 5K DTBP.... you can round trip another stock as many times as you like as long as it doesn't exceed 5K,.... BUT... you still have to keep that second 5K overnight because that was purchased on the &*margin* side of your account. You account has a *cash side* and a *margin side*. DTBP is calculated off of the cash side.
Oh hush up goofy.... its legit questions. That stuff is confusing as hell and the reason I know about it is because I've f'd it up so many times.
a simple google for the lazy persons https://tastyworks.desk.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2670771-day-trade-call-dt-
I think he understands this part of it. But the link doesn't really explain to him how a pattern daytrader's account is divided into two parts. Cash side/margin side.
Thanks everyone for the input. I am well aware of the relevant definitions and regulations. The issue is, in reality, how they are normally interpreted and executed by brokers. The other issue is, the online articles you read often do not give elaborate examples to reflect traders' real-world activities. Not trying to cause trouble here, but if you day trade enough, eventually you will (or will want to) run into one of the situations as shown in my examples.