In essence, for a person that has not had any real experience with either (except for playing around in simulators like investopedia):

  1. which one would an individual have the most potential to realize capital gains with the least amount of stress or risk?
  2. Which one is easier to learn the ropes and gain experience?

All the online documents I've see online seem to suggest that it would be a matter of preference to some extent.

  • 17
    Both of these are not investing, they are gambling. They are both zero sum games, which means that at the end of the night, the gamblers leave with the same money they had in aggregate when they walked in the door, minus the house' share, and the gal whom you tipped for drinks. While the market itself rises in value over time, true day trading doesn't allow enough time to pass for that to have any impact. I strongly encourage you to take the money you were about to lose and learn to invest for real. If you insist on parting with it, I'm sure there's a nearby shelter that will accept it. – JTP - Apologise to Monica Mar 15 '13 at 16:27
  • 3
    As much as it may or may not be gambling, it is still a valid and legal form of "investment" that people use to make or lose money, it is also a question (I believe) many people have in their mind. So I don't get what the downvote is for, because YOU don't like them? people use these tools everyday to make or lose money, and, at the end of the day the purpose of this site is to educate those (who like me) feel curiosity for them; not condemn them (IMHO) – rantsh Mar 15 '13 at 18:11
  • 3
    first, not my downvote, in fact, I'm happy to upvote if that's a sign of goodwill. The question itself is valid, and my answer, on re-reading, was my usual kind tone. In my own writing, I often compare gambling and investing. And I do both, so long as I'm clear which is which. (my upvote entered) – JTP - Apologise to Monica Mar 15 '13 at 18:39
  • 5
    It isn't possible to know who voted down. That said, your question isn't answerable as it stands. While ForEx and Day Trading exist and are legal, they are NOT avenues for a self identified beginner. I am with JoeTaxpayer that they aren't avenues for any personal finance, and your question is "which is best", which isn't a great question format. Furthermore this community might disagree with the premise and downvote. I suspect you can re-work the question to include another option, or ask about the risks vs rewards. – MrChrister Mar 15 '13 at 18:43

Forex vs Day Trading: These can be one and the same, as most people who trade forex do it as day trading. Forex is the instrument you are trading and day trading is the time frame you are doing it in.

If your meaning from your question was comparing trading forex vs stocks, then it depends on a number of things. Forex is more liquid so most professional traders prefer it as it can be easier to get in and out without being gapped. However, if you are not trading large amounts of money and you stay away from more volatile stocks, this should not matter too much. It may also depend on what you understand more and prefer to trade. You need to be comfortable with what you are trading.

If on the other hand you are referring to day trading vs longer term trading and/or investing, then this can depend largely on the instrument you are trading and the time frame you are more comfortable with. Forex is used more for shorter term trading, from day trading to having a position open for a couple of days. Stocks on the other hand can be day traded to traded over days, weeks, months or years. It is much more common to have positions open for longer periods with stocks. Other instruments like commodities, can also be traded over different time frames. The shorter the time frame you trade the higher risk involved as you have to make quick decisions and be happy with making a lot of smaller gains with the potential to make a large loss if things go wrong. It is best once again to chose a time frame you are comfortable with.

I tend to trade Australian stocks as I know them well and am comfortable with them. I usually trade in the medium to long term, however I let the market decide how long I am in a position and when I get out of it. I try to follow the trend and stay in a position as long as the trend continues. I put automatic stop losses on all my positions, so if the market turns against me I am automatically taken out. I can be in a position for as little as a day (can happen if I buy one day and the next day the stock falls by 15% or more) to over a year (as long as the trend continues). By doing this I avoid the daily market noise and let my profits run and keep my losses small.

No matter what instrument you end up trading and the time frame you choose to trade in, you should always have a tested trading plan and a risk management strategy in place. These are the areas you should first gain knowledge in to further your pursuits in trading.


This image is an advertisement from a recent Barron's. The broker would want to put himself in the best light, correct?

forex ad

This shows you that of their current accounts, 53.5% are not profitable. And, keep in mind, these guys have the best track record of the list. Also, their client base isn't random. The winners tend to stay, so even if it were 50/50, the 50% of losers might represent many times that number of people who came to the table, lost their money and left.

  • It's a Zero sum game, it'll always be around 50% unless you have a big fool at the table. – xvan May 25 '17 at 4:39

Are you in the US? Because if so, there are tax discrepancies.

Gains from sale of stocks held for less than one year are subject to ordinary income tax, so probably around 30%. If you hold those stocks for a year or more, gains will be taxed as capital gains tax, 15%.

For Forex, taxes on your earnings will be split 60/40. 60% will be traded at the lower 15% rate, while the remaining 40& will be taxed at a higher rate, approximately 30%.

So purely short-term, there is a tax advantage to dabbling in Forex.

HOWEVER - these are both incredibly risky things to do with your money! I never would recommend anyone invest short-term looking to make quick cash! In fact, the tax code DISCOURAGES people from short-term investments.
