Are you saying that a $10k cash account @ Lightspeed can day-trade $1000 or $2000 in options everyday without being considered a Pattern Day Trader? P.S. The regs seem poorly written IMO.
Yes. NO PDT on a CASH account. Our Lightspeed Trader software typically requires $25,000 or more, but right now we have this promotion. https://www.lightspeed.com/Fund4Less/ Most smaller accounts choose Web trader. This is the old one-https://www.lightspeed.com/trading-platforms/lightspeed-web-trader/ but in the next 45 days we are moving to this one: https://www.sterlingtradingtech.com/products-and-services/platforms/sterling-trader-webmobile/ Bob
https://www.lightspeed.com/non-pattern-day-trading-page/ So one cannot do one trade per day in a cash account.
This was just for the sake of clarification on this PDT subject. I am mostly trading futures due to tax benefits and accounting simplicity. I also do not need a sub-$25k account for equities. My point was that sub-$25k equity accounts are limited in the number of trades per week allowed. Your post could be interpreted that one is allowed to trade more frequently in a cash account, at least that is the way I read it. Perhaps you meant a >$25k cash account?
Why do I trade options? - Because they allow me to sell time and volatility. - Allow me to profit using delta-neutral strategies. - Give me an almost endless way of structuring a trade, to fit my market opinion
options are definitely not easier than equities at least for new traders...i was making consistent gains day/swing trading individual stocks the past several months and have lost all of that and then some in 3 weeks of options trading.
I trade for a living and with my own funds (for around 10 years). So, the answer is a "Yes". For me. Because my strengths and personality is more suited to trading time and volatility rather than direction. For others, futures/stocks will be more suitable instruments. To each, his own. Happy trading whatever your weapon of choice.