What Are The Rules On Day Trading In A Futures Account?
Author: What are the rules on day trading in a futures account? I understand that I have to have a minimum of 25,000 dollars in my account if I am a pattern day trader in a stock account. Does this same rule apply for a futures account?
Absolutely not. Some brokerages have minimums as little as 500 to trade an S&P emini.
Check out the websites at Advanced Futures or Velocity futures. Their miniumums are low.
I am making no recommendations, however, just answering your question.
There is definitely NO huge pattern type day trader rule in the futures industry.
And the reason is, you don’t own a contract, so you don’t own anything unless you take delivery. You are simply putting up good-faith money. (But since you are “buying” or “selling” on margin, you WILL have to put up more money if your position goes against you and you want to keep holding it.)