Day Trading for a Living?

9 Pages Posted: 22 Jul 2019 Last revised: 15 Jun 2020

See all articles by Fernando Chague

Fernando Chague

Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) - Sao Paulo School of Economics

Rodrigo De-Losso

University of São Paulo (USP) - Department of Economics

Bruno Giovannetti

Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) - Sao Paulo School of Economics

Date Written: June 11, 2020

Abstract

We show that it is virtually impossible for individuals to day trade for a living, contrary to what course providers claim. We observe all individuals who began to day trade between 2013 and 2015 in the Brazilian equity futures market, the third in terms of volume in the world. We find that 97% of all individuals who persisted for more than 300 days lost money. Only 1.1% earned more than the Brazilian minimum wage and only 0.5% earned more than the initial salary of a bank teller — all with great risk.

Keywords: day trade, day trading for a living, retail investors, HFT, course providers, futures market

JEL Classification: D14; G02

Suggested Citation

Chague, Fernando and De-Losso, Rodrigo and Giovannetti, Bruno, Day Trading for a Living? (June 11, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3423101 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3423101

Fernando Chague (Contact Author)

Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) - Sao Paulo School of Economics ( email )

Rua Itapeva 474
São Paulo, São Paulo 01332-000
Brazil

HOME PAGE: http://https://sites.google.com/site/fchague/

Rodrigo De-Losso

University of São Paulo (USP) - Department of Economics ( email )

Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto 908
Sao Paulo SP, 05508-010
Brazil
551130930957 (Phone)

Bruno Giovannetti

Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) - Sao Paulo School of Economics ( email )

Rua Itapeva 474 s.1202
São Paulo, São Paulo 01332-000
Brazil

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