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LoansJagat Team
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15 Min
28 Apr 2025
Intraday trading, or day trading, is buying and selling financial instruments, like stocks, within the same day. The goal is to profit from small price movements. For example, a trader might buy 100 shares of Artson Ltd at ₹500 each and sell them at ₹505 within a few hours, making a ₹500 profit (₹5 × 100 shares) before the market closes.
Unlike long-term investors, intraday traders do not hold positions overnight, which helps avoid risks from after-hours news or global market shifts. They use technical analysis, such as price charts and indicators like moving averages or RSI, to predict short-term movements.
Speed and discipline are crucial. If stock ABC rises 2% in 30 minutes, a trader must react quickly to lock in profits. Though the potential for quick gains is attractive, losses can occur just as fast, making risk management essential. Only those with the right skills, strategy, and focus tend to succeed in this high-paced environment.
Intraday trading, also known as day trading, involves buying and selling stocks within the same trading day. Traders aim to profit from short-term price changes, avoiding overnight risks. For example, if a trader buys 100 shares of Artson Ltd, which is among the best stocks for intraday trading, tomorrow at ₹250 and sells them at ₹256, the profit is ₹600 (₹6 × 100 shares) before the market closes.
Why Invest in the Best Stocks for Intraday Tomorrow?
Feature | Description | Example / Value |
Quick Profits | Capture small price moves within hours | Buy at ₹250 → Sell at ₹256 |
Reduced Risk | No overnight holdings = no impact from after-hours news | Market closes → No exposure |
Leverage Opportunities | Trade larger positions with smaller capital | ₹10,000 capital → ₹50,000 trade (5× leverage) |
High Risk | Rapid market shifts can cause big losses | ₹5 drop on 500 shares = ₹2,500 loss |
Frequent Monitoring | Continuous watch on charts, news, and indicators | Use moving averages, RSI |
Intraday trading can be profitable, but it demands skill, discipline, and a strong strategy. Without proper risk management and technical know-how, potential gains can quickly turn into losses. Always trade with caution and a well-planned approach.
Intraday trading offers a range of advantages for those who can navigate the market with speed, discipline, and strategy. Here are the key reasons why many investors choose to trade intraday:
Reason | Explanation | Example / Insight |
Quick Profits | Capture small price movements in a single session to realise fast gains. | Buy 200 shares at ₹150, sell at ₹153 → ₹600 profit in hours. |
Reduced Overnight Risk | Positions are closed before the market closes, avoiding news-based volatility. | No exposure to global news after 3:30 PM IST |
Convenience & Accessibility | Trade anytime, anywhere via online platforms and mobile apps. | Execute trades on your phone while commuting. |
Lower Margin Needs | Requires less capital compared to delivery trading | Trade worth ₹1,00,000 with just ₹20,000 (5× margin). |
Compounding Potential | Reinvest gains from earlier trades within the same day or the next. | Morning profit ₹1,000 → reinvest in afternoon for ₹1,500 total. |
Regular Opportunities | Frequent price changes provide multiple trade setups daily. | Stock A moves ₹5 in the morning, ₹4 in the afternoon—2 chances to trade. |
Quick Feedback & Learning | Immediate results from trades accelerate learning and skill-building. | Loss in one trade teaches a better entry next time. |
Higher ROI Potential | Multiple profitable trades per day can generate significant returns over time. | 5 trades/day with ₹500 profit each = ₹2,500 daily. |
Intraday trading isn't just about fast profits—it's about building experience, making strategic decisions, and learning from every move. With proper risk management and consistent practice, it can become a powerful tool for active traders seeking both financial growth and market insight.
For example, Ravi, a 28-year-old intraday trader from Mumbai, starts his trading day by scanning stocks with high volume spikes and price movement potential. On a recent Wednesday, he chose to track Tata Motors due to a news report about improved quarterly sales.
Combined with bullish technical patterns and a sharp rise in pre-market volume, Ravi entered a quick trade when the stock opened with upward momentum. He exited within 2 hours, booking a 2.3% profit, demonstrating how combining technical indicators, volume analysis, and news impact can lead to smart intraday decisions.
Factor | Impact on Intraday Stock Selection |
Volume Surge | Indicates trader interest; high volume confirms strength in price movement direction. |
News and Announcements | Earnings results, policy changes, or global events can cause sharp price moves, ideal for intraday plays. |
Technical Breakouts | Stocks breaking key resistance or support levels often see strong intraday momentum. |
Volatility Index (VIX) | A higher VIX suggests more market movement, favourable for intraday traders seeking price swings. |
Global Market Cues | Performance of US, Asian markets, and commodities like oil can influence market sentiment the next day. |
Pre-market Activity | Stocks showing high volume and gap-up or gap-down moves are often top candidates for early trades. |
Sector Rotation | Certain sectors may be in focus due to trends or events, boosting intraday opportunities in those areas. |
FII/DII Activity | Institutional buying or selling can cause large price movements in specific large-cap stocks. |
Note: This data has been taken from the official website of Google Finance.
Stock Name | Market Cap | P/E ratio | Dividend Yield (%) | 1 year return (%) |
Artson Ltd | 6.12B INR | 144.23 | – | 10.61 |
Sattrix Information Security Ltd | 828.24M INR | – | – | -22.67 |
Sikko Industries Ltd | 1.80B INR | 1.80B INR | – | 14.63 |
TPL Plastech Ltd | 6.98B INR | 30.60 | 0.89% | -11.08 |
Weizmann Limited | 1.87B INR | 27.81 | 0.41% | 5.40 |
Orient Electric Ltd | 48.01B INR | 74.33 | 0.67% | 3.64 |
Sumit Woods Ltd | 3.34B INR | 36.37 | – | 52.53 |
Oriental Rail Infrastructure Ltd | 12.05B INR | 37.81 | 0.05% | 33.89 |
City Union Bank Ltd | 135.93B INR | 12.56 | 0.55% | 17.07 |
Oriental Hotels Ltd | 28.22B INR | 72.54 | 0.32% | 16.99 |
Intraday trading may seem like an exciting way to earn quick profits, but beneath the surface lies a high-stakes environment that demands immense discipline, risk control, and mental strength. Before stepping in, every trader should consider the following critical factors:
Factor | Explanation | Real-World Insight | ||
High Volatility Risk |
| A trader earned ₹75,000 in a strangle, but one sharp Nifty move led to a ₹27,00,000 loss. | ||
Overconfidence & Greed | Success in early trades often tempts traders to increase their position size beyond safe limits. | Moving from 1 lot to 100+ lots can expose you to massive risk. | ||
Emotional Trading | Intraday decisions made under stress often result in poor outcomes. | Fear, greed, and hope are silent killers of capital. | ||
Leverage = Double-Edged Sword | While brokers offer margin to trade big with less money, it amplifies both profits and losses. | Margin calls can lead to the liquidation of long-term holdings. | ||
Lack of Predictability | No trader, no matter how skilled, can predict the market consistently. | Even after 40+ years in the market, traders get caught off guard. | ||
Discipline is Rare | Only a tiny fraction of traders remain consistently disciplined. | 99.99999% of traders fall prey to emotional decision-making. | ||
Capital Protection is Key | If your net worth is ₹100 crores, risk only what you can afford to lose—say ₹1 crore. | Once capital is gone, recovery is slow or impossible. | ||
Paper Trading First | Practice strategies in simulated environments like Sensibull’s Draft Trading before risking real money. | It provides the same thrill, with zero financial damage. |
The landscape of intraday trading is rapidly evolving, shaped by regulatory reforms and breakthroughs in trading technology. As market dynamics shift, the future of intraday stock trading promises to be more flexible, data-driven, and technologically advanced.
1. Regulatory Changes
Aspect | Details |
Eased Position Limits | SEBI now allows intraday monitoring of index derivative positions instead of immediate penalties. |
Flexible Oversight | This reflects a more transparent, risk-focused regulatory approach. |
These regulatory updates indicate a shift from strict punishment to proactive monitoring, allowing traders greater flexibility while ensuring market integrity.
2. Technological Advancements
Area | Impact on Intraday Trading |
Trading Platforms | Platforms are becoming more user-friendly, with advanced charting tools, fast execution, and integrated risk controls. |
Algorithmic Trading | Use of algorithms for high-frequency and rule-based trades will grow, reducing emotional decision-making. |
Data Analytics | Enhanced data analysis tools will help traders identify patterns, forecast movements, and optimise strategies. |
3. Key Considerations for Future Traders
Factor | Why It Matters |
Risk Management | Markets remain volatile; tools like stop-loss orders and position sizing are critical. |
Skill & Knowledge | readers must stay updated on technical indicators, market news, and emerging tools. |
Time Commitment | Intraday trading demands full-time attention and quick decision-making. |
The future of intraday stock trading lies in smart regulation and smarter technology. While tools and access are improving, the fundamental need for discipline, knowledge, and risk control remains unchanged. Traders who embrace these advancements responsibly will be best positioned to navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Sameer, a 29-year-old part-time trader from Mumbai, was drawn to intraday options trading for the quick gains and adrenaline rush. He built strategies around low upfront capital and frequent trades, often riding market volatility. But in early 2025, everything changed.
SEBI’s new regulations—like upfront premium collection and tighter intraday position monitoring—caught him off guard. Suddenly, his capital requirement shot up, and position limits meant he couldn’t scale trades like before. On top of that, larger contract sizes increased the stakes and risk per trade. Within a few weeks, Sameer faced mounting losses and was forced to exit positions earlier than planned due to margin calls.
This experience exposed the hidden challenges and risks of intraday trading under a tightening regulatory regime. The table given below gives you a breakdown of what Sameer now has to navigate:
Risk Factor | Description | Example |
High Market Volatility | Prices can fluctuate wildly within minutes, making it difficult to predict short-term movements and increasing the chances of losses. | During a Union Budget announcement, a trader buys banking stocks expecting a rate cut. However, the opposite happens and stocks fall sharply, resulting in instant losses. |
Emotional Trading | Decisions driven by fear or greed rather than strategy often lead to poor outcomes and inconsistent results. | A trader sees a stock rising rapidly and buys out of FOMO, only for it to crash moments later, causing panic selling and losses. |
Overtrading | Placing too many trades in a day can lead to high brokerage charges, poor decision-making, and capital erosion. | Ravi executes 25 trades in one day, making ₹5,000 profit, but pays ₹2,800 in fees, reducing the net gain significantly. |
Leverage Risk | Using margin (borrowed funds) can amplify both gains and losses. A small negative price movement can wipe out capital. | Neha uses 10x leverage to trade with ₹1 lakh exposure using ₹10,000. A 2% fall in the stock wipes out her capital due to a margin call. |
Technical Glitches | Platform crashes, internet issues, or delayed order execution can prevent timely exits, causing unexpected losses. | Pranav tries to sell a falling stock, but his trading app crashes. By the time it reconnects, the stock has fallen further, increasing his loss. |
Limited Profit Margins | Since trades are closed the same day, profits per trade are usually small, requiring high accuracy and consistency. | Even with 70% accuracy, the small gains are often eaten up by transaction charges unless trades are perfectly timed. |
Market Manipulation Risk | Illiquid stocks may be targeted for pump-and-dump schemes, especially in low-volume trading environments. | A stock spikes 15% in 10 minutes due to sudden volume. Traders jump in, but it's a pump-and-dump scheme, and prices crash after early exit by manipulators. |
In 2023, Arjun began his intraday trading journey with a modest capital of ₹1,50,000. By focusing on high-volume stocks and leveraging market volatility, he achieved consistent profits, growing his capital to ₹2,25,000 by 2024. However, the trading environment in 2025 has introduced new dynamics that Arjun must adapt to.
Trend | Explanation |
Regulatory Reforms by SEBI | The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has implemented several measures to enhance market integrity and protect retail investors. These include: - Increased Contract Sizes: The minimum contract size for index derivatives has been raised from ₹5,00,000–10,00,000 to ₹15,00,000, aiming to curb excessive speculation. - Upfront Collection of Premiums: Brokers are now required to collect the entire option premiums in advance, reducing the risk of default. - Intraday monitoring of Position Limits: Exchanges will monitor position limits multiple times during the trading day to prevent excessive risk-taking. |
Introduction of T+0 Settlement | SEBI has expanded the optional same-day settlement (T+0) cycle to the top 500 stocks by market capitalisation, starting January 31, 2025. This move aims to enhance liquidity and reduce settlement risks. Source |
Decline in F&O Activity | Following the new regulations, there has been a 20-30% decline in Futures & Options (F&O) activity. This trend is expected to continue as the full impact of the measures unfolds. |
Algorithmic Trading Regulations | SEBI plans to implement new regulations for algorithmic trading starting August 1, 2025. These rules will require algorithms to be registered and approved by exchanges, aiming to enhance market integrity and protect retail traders. |
Facing the evolving trading environment, Arjun has adapted his approach:
Continuous Learning: Staying updated with regulatory changes and market trends to make informed decisions.
Intraday trading—buying and selling stocks within the same trading day—can be a suitable strategy for certain investor profiles.
Here's a structured overview of who might consider intraday trading in India:
1. Active Traders with High Risk Tolerance
Why Intraday Trading Suits Them?
Example:
A trader monitors the stock of Canara Bank, which is recommended for intraday trading at ₹92 with a target of ₹94.20 and a stop loss at ₹92.
2. Individuals Seeking Quick Gains
Why Intraday Trading Suits Them?
Example:
An investor buys shares of Paramount Communications at ₹50, aiming for a target of ₹52.50 with a stop loss at ₹49, as per expert recommendations.
3. Traders with Strong Analytical Skills
Why Intraday Trading Suits Them?
Example:
A trader uses technical indicators to identify a breakout pattern in SBFC stock, buying at ₹94 with a target of ₹98 and a stop loss at ₹92.
4. Investors Exploring Market Dynamics
Why Intraday Trading Suits Them?
Example:
An investor experiments with intraday trading by purchasing Confidence Petroleum India shares at ₹52, targeting ₹54.50 with a stop loss at ₹50.80, based on expert advice.
Important Considerations:
1. Open a Demat and Trading Account
2. Understand Intraday Trading Basics
3. Learn Technical Analysis
4. Select Suitable Stocks
5. Develop a Trading Strategy
6. Monitor and Adjust
Intraday trading in India has seen a surge in popularity, driven by technological advancements, increased market accessibility, and evolving regulatory frameworks. However, as we navigate through 2025, it's essential to assess whether intraday trading aligns with your financial goals and risk appetite.
The Shift In Market Dynamics
The intraday trading landscape is undergoing significant changes:
When contemplating intraday trading, consider the following factors:
Factor | Consideration | Why It Matters |
Regulatory Environment | Stay updated with SEBI's guidelines to ensure compliance and avoid penalties. | Non-compliance can lead to financial and legal repercussions. |
Market Liquidity | Focus on stocks with high trading volumes. | High liquidity ensures smoother entry and exit points. |
Technical Analysis | Utilise tools like moving averages, RSI, and Bollinger Bands. | These tools help identify trading opportunities and manage risks. |
Risk Management | Implement stop-loss orders and position sizing strategies. | Effective risk management is crucial to protect capital. |
Continuous Learning | Stay informed about market trends and continuously refine your strategies. | The market is dynamic; adaptability is key to success. |
Intraday trading in 2025 offers both opportunities and challenges. Success requires a combination of market knowledge, technical proficiency, risk management, and emotional discipline. Before diving in, assess your financial goals, risk tolerance, and commitment to continuous learning.
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LoansJagat Team
We are a team of writers, editors, and proofreaders with 15+ years of experience in the finance field. We are your personal finance gurus! But, we will explain everything in simplified language. Our aim is to make personal and business finance easier for you. While we help you upgrade your financial knowledge, why don't you read some of our blogs?
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