Learning Day Trading

How do partial fills affect day trading status?

In the U.S. Stock Market, how do partial fills and multiple orders count in getting flagged as a Pattern Day Trader? Day trading is buying and selling the same security within the same trading day (though if you don't already know that, you shouldn't be answering this question). Suppose I process a series of buys on a particular security in the morning. Then sell them all in the afternoon. Buy - Buy - Buy - Sell Does this count as one day trade or three? What if either the Buy or Sell orders were partial fills? Thanks Thank you very much StopSpending. What if the buys were separate orders, but you execute a single sell for the total lot?

Public Comments

1. My experience has been that a "trade" is considered to be the order ans all of its fills. In the attached link, the SEC makes it very clear that a pattern day-trader is supposed to be a real day-trader. Counting each fill would snare too many customers in the net. From Rule 2520: "The term "day[-]trading" means the purchasing and selling or the selling and purchasing of the same security on the same day in a margin account" "The term "pattern day trader" means any customer who executes four or more day trades within five business days. However, if the number of day trades is 6% or less of total trades for the five business day period, the customer will not be considered a pattern day trader" It's pretty clear to me that to "execute" a trade. I place an order and get fills. The order and the fills are a "trade". Now, if your two "buys" are based upon two separate orders, then the pattern you ask about would be two day trades. Further info: Interactiveborkers gives clear examples of day trades on their website. Another reason why I like that firm so much. Looks like your two buys and one sell example is just one day trade.