DAY-TRADING RISK DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
You should
consider the following points before engaging in a day-trading
strategy. For purposes of this notice, a "day-trading strategy" means
an overall trading strategy characterized by the regular transmission
by a customer of intra-day orders to effect both purchase and
sale transactions in the same security or securities.
Day
trading can be extremely risky. Day trading generally is
not appropriate for someone of limited resources and limited
investment or trading experience and low risk tolerance. You
should be prepared to lose all of the funds that you use for
day trading. In particular, you should not fund day-trading activities
with retirement savings, student loans, second mortgages, emergency
funds, funds set aside for purposes such as education or home
ownership, or funds required to meet your living expenses. Further
certain evidence indicates that an investment of less than $50,000
will significantly impair the ability of a day trader to make
a profit. Of course, an investment of $50,000 or more will
in no way guarantee success.
Be cautious
of claims of large profits from day trading. You should
be wary of advertisements or other statements that emphasize
the potential for large profits in day trading. Day trading
can also lead to large and immediate financial losses.
Day trading
requires knowledge of securities markets. Day trading requires
in-depth knowledge of the securities markets and trading techniques
and strategies. In attempting to profit through day trading,
you must compete with professional, licensed traders employed
by securities firms. You should have appropriate experience
before engaging in day trading.
Day trading
requires knowledge of a firm's operations. You should be
familiar with a securities firm's business practices, including
the operation of the firm's order execution systems and procedures.
Under certain market conditions, you may find it difficult
or impossible to liquidate a position quickly at a reasonable
price. This can occur, for example, when the market for a stock
suddenly drops, or if trading is halted due to recent news
events or unusual trading activity. The more volatile a stock
is, the greater the likelihood that problems may be encountered
in executing a transaction. In additional to normal market
risks, you may experience losses due to system failures.
Day trading
will generate substantial commissions, even if the per trade
cost is low. Day trading involves aggressive trading, and
generally you will pay commissions on each trade. The total
daily commissions that you pay on your trades will add to your
losses or significantly reduce your earnings. For instance,
assuming that a trade costs $16 and an average of 29 transactions
are conducted per day, an investor would need to generate an
annual profit of $111,360 just to cover commission expenses.
Day trading
on margin or short selling may result in losses beyond your
initial investment. When you day trade with funds borrowed
from a firm or someone else, you can lose more than the funds
you originally placed at risk. A decline in the value of the
securities that are purchased may require you to provide additional
funds to the firm to avoid the forced sale of those securities
or other securities in your account. Short selling as part
of your day-trading strategy also may lead to extraordinary
losses, because you may have to purchase a stock at a very
high price to cover a short position.
Potential
Registration Requirements. Persons providing investment
advice for others or managing securities accounts for others
may need to register as either an "Investment Advisor" under
the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 or as a "Broker" or "Dealer" under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such activities may also
trigger state registration requirements.
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