How to Day Trade on eToro: Guide and Analysis

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Thomas Drury
Thomas Drury

Thomas Drury

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Seasoned finance professional with 10+ years' experience. Chartered status holder. Proficient in CFDs, ISAs, and crypto investing. Passionate about helping others achieve financial goals.

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Updated 18/03/2025

Quick Answer: How to Day Trade on eToro

To buy stock on eToro, enter the investment amount, set stop loss and take profit levels, choose leverage, and confirm the market order. Ensure risk management is in place before trading. 

Featured Platform: eToro

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

How to Day Trade on eToro: Overview

Day trading on eToro has been an exciting and sometimes challenging journey for me. In 2025, eToro continues to be a platform that offers plenty of opportunities, but it also requires discipline, strategy, and risk management. I’ve spent countless hours refining my approach, learning from mistakes, and taking advantage of the platform’s unique features. In this guide, I’ll share my personal experience and insights on how to day trade successfully on eToro. 

How to Day Trade on eToro: Step-by-Step

  • Step 1: Set Up Your eToro Account – Sign up, verify your identity, deposit funds, and explore the demo account.
  • Step 2: Choose a Trading Strategy – Use scalping, momentum trading, breakout trading, or mean reversion to plan your trades.
  • Step 3: Pick the Right Assets – Focus on high-liquidity stocks, forex, or crypto and track market trends.
  • Step 4: Use Technical & Fundamental Analysis – Utilize indicators (RSI, MACD) and research financial news.
  • Step 5: Manage Your Risk – Set stop-loss orders, maintain a risk-reward ratio, and limit risk per trade.
  • Step 6: Execute and Monitor Trades – Use market or limit orders and adjust as needed.
  • Step 7: Close & Review Performance – Exit based on strategy, track results, and refine your approach.
  • Step 8: Use eToro’s Features – Leverage CopyTrader, ProCharts, and social trading tools.

What Are Stocks and How Do They Work?  

When I first started trading, I had to build a solid understanding of stocks. Stocks represent ownership in a company, and when I buy shares, I am essentially purchasing a small piece of that company. Unlike long-term investors who hold stocks for years, I focus on short-term price movements to capitalise on quick trades. 

Day trading stocks means I look for opportunities where a stock’s price moves enough within a single day to make a meaningful profit. This requires keeping an eye on trends, company news, and overall market conditions. 

Key Features of Stocks 

Feature Description My Experience 
Ownership Stocks represent a share in a company, meaning the investor owns a part of it. I don’t focus on long-term ownership but rather on short-term price movements. 
Dividends Some companies pay shareholders a portion of their profits as dividends. Since I trade short-term, I don’t rely on dividends for income. 
Liquidity Stocks with high liquidity can be bought and sold quickly without a significant impact on price. I only trade highly liquid stocks like Apple, Tesla, and Amazon to ensure quick order execution. 
Volatility The price of stocks fluctuates due to market conditions, news, and investor sentiment. Volatility creates opportunities, but I have to manage risk carefully. 

What Are the Risks of Investing?

One thing I have learnt is that investing—especially day trading—comes with risks. Prices can change in an instant, and if I am not careful, I can lose money just as quickly as I make it. 

  • Market Volatility: I’ve seen stocks spike and crash within minutes. This is both an opportunity and a risk. 
  • Leverage Risks: Using leverage can amplify my profits, but it also magnifies my losses. I always set stop-loss orders to manage risk. 
  • Emotional Trading: When I started, I made impulsive trades with little to no basis. Now, I stick to my strategy and avoid emotional decisions. 
  • Regulatory Risks: Sometimes, new regulations affect trading conditions. I keep up with the latest financial news to stay ahead. 
  • Liquidity Risks: I’ve been stuck in trades before where there weren’t enough buyers or sellers at my desired price. 

Luckily, eToro has tools that can help mitigate these risks. I use stop-loss orders regularly and always plan my trades before executing them. 

Managing Risks on eToro 

Risk Factor How I Mitigate It 
Market Volatility I avoid trading just before big economic reports and use tight stop-loss orders. 
Leverage Risks I never risk more than 1-2% of my trading account per trade and limit leverage. 
Emotional Trading I follow a pre-defined trading plan and never let emotions dictate my actions. 
Regulatory Risks I stay informed by reading financial news and understanding new regulations. 
Liquidity Risks I only trade high-volume stocks and forex pairs to ensure smooth exits. 

How Do You Open an eToro Account?

After learning about eToro and deciding it was the right platform for me. I began by opening an account. Luckily, getting started on eToro was not so difficult. Here is a step-by-step rundown of how I did it: 

1. Visited eToro’s Website: I signed up at www.etoro.com.

2. Created an Account: I entered my details and set a secure password. 

3. Completed the financial Knowledge Questionnaire: eToro needs know the extent of your trading inorder to provide you with the best possible experience 

4. Deposited Funds: I started with a small deposit via PayPal, but there are multiple funding options. 

How Can I Pick the Right Stock?

I’ve learned that not all stocks are suitable for day trading. Here’s what I look for: 

  • Liquidity: I only trade stocks with high volume to ensure smooth entry and exit. 
  • Volatility: More movement means more opportunities for quick profits. 
  • News & Events: I check earnings reports and news catalysts before choosing a stock. 
  • Technical Indicators: I use RSI, MACD, and moving averages to time my trades. 

Example Stock Selection Process 

For instance, when Tesla (TSLA) reports earnings, I know there will be volatility. If the stock shows strong momentum, I might enter a trade and ride the wave for a few minutes or hours before taking profits. 

Once I pick a stock, here’s my process for buying it on eToro: 

Step 1: Search for the Stock: I use the search bar to find the stock I want. 

Step 2: Click ‘Trade’: This opens the trading window. 

Step 3: Set Trade Parameters: I decide how much I want to invest. 

Step 4: Choose Order Type: I mostly use market orders for instant execution. 

Step 5: Apply Risk Management: Stop-loss and take-profit levels are a must. 

Step 6: Confirm and Execute: A quick double-check, then I hit ‘Open Trade’. 

What Are the Basics of Forex Trading?

Forex trading is another area I’ve explored on eToro. It involves trading currency pairs like EUR/USD, aiming to profit from price fluctuations. While eToro is a popular choice, there are other top forex trading platforms in the UK worth considering here.

Key Forex Trading Terms 

Term Definition My Trading Insight 
Pip The smallest price movement in a currency pair, typically the fourth decimal place (0.0001). I target small pip gains with high probability trades. 
Spread The difference between the buy (bid) and sell (ask) price. I prefer pairs with tight spreads like EUR/USD for cost efficiency. 
Leverage A tool that allows traders to control a large position with a small deposit. I use leverage cautiously to avoid excessive risk. 
Lot Size The standardised quantity of a currency pair traded (micro, mini, or standard lot). I usually trade mini lots to balance risk and reward. 

Example Forex Trade 

If I believe the euro will strengthen against the dollar, I go long on EUR/USD. If my trade moves in my favor, I take profits early rather than getting greedy. 

What Is CFD Trading? and How Does It Work on eToro?

CFD trading allows speculation on asset price movements without owning the underlying assets. It is widely used in financial markets to gain exposure to stocks, forex, commodities, and indices. Platforms like eToro provide access to a variety of CFD instruments.

Platforms like eToro provide access to a variety of CFD instruments, but there are also other top CFD trading platforms in the UK worth exploring here.

For a deeper understanding of how CFDs work, you can explore dozens of articles on CFD trading, which explains key concepts, including leverage, margin, and market volatility. If you’re interested in forex trading, these articles on forex market mechanics covers currency pairs, liquidity, and factors influencing price movements. Additionally, understanding potential risks is crucial, and this resource on managing CFD trading risks provides insights into market fluctuations and risk-mitigation strategies.

Pros & Cons of CFD Trading 

Pros Description Cons Description 
Trade Rising & Falling Markets I can profit in both bull and bear markets. High Risk Leverage can magnify losses if not managed properly. 
No Need to Own the Asset I don’t have to worry about physical ownership or storage. Overnight Fees Holding CFDs overnight can incur extra costs. 
Access to Multiple Markets I can trade stocks, forex, commodities, and crypto on one platform. Requires Monitoring CFDs require close attention due to price fluctuations. 

Real-World CFD Example 

Once, I bought an Amazon CFD before an earnings release. The stock surged, and I closed the trade within minutes for a quick profit. 

What Are the Benefits of Trading on eToro?

Here’s why I prefer eToro over other platforms: 

Why I Trade on eToro 

Feature Benefit to Me 
User-Friendly Interface The platform is simple to navigate, even for beginners. 
Social Trading I can copy experienced traders while still making my own trades. 
Diverse Asset Selection Stocks, forex, crypto—I can trade it all in one place. 
Commission-Free Stock Trading No hidden fees on stock purchases, helping me save money. 
Risk Management Tools Stop-loss and take-profit orders keep my risk under control. 

Final Thoughts

Day trading on eToro has been a journey of learning and growth. While it offers great opportunities, I’ve had to be disciplined and strategic. Risk management is key, and taking advantage of eToro’s tools has helped me stay on track. If you’re thinking about starting, I’d suggest using the demo account first, setting realistic goals, and sticking to a strategy. Happy trading! 

Trade Smarter, not Harder

eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

FAQs

Yes! eToro offers a user-friendly interface, a demo account for practice, and copy trading features that allow beginners to learn from experienced traders.

The minimum deposit varies by country, but you can start with as little as $50. However, having a larger balance helps manage risk more effectively.

eToro offers commission-free stock trading but charges spreads on forex and CFDs. There are also overnight and withdrawal fees, so always check the fee structure.

Some effective strategies include trend trading, scalping, and momentum trading. Using stop-loss orders and risk management tools is essential.

Yes! eToro has a fully functional mobile app, allowing traders to execute trades, monitor markets, and manage their portfolios on the go.

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References:

  1. eToro Official Website – Trading Platform Features & Fees | Provides official information on trading tools, fees, and platform functionality. 
  2. Forex.com – Understanding Forex Trading | Detailed insights on forex trading principles, leverage, and currency pairs. 
  3. Financial Times – Stock Market News & Analysis (Subscription may be required) | Up-to-date market trends, stock performance, and expert analysis. 
  4. Bloomberg – Global Financial News | Provides real-time data, insights, and expert opinions on financial markets. 
  5. NerdWallet – eToro Review | An in-depth review of eToro’s features, pros, and cons for traders. 
  6. SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) – Trading & Investing Regulations 
  7. TradingView – Real-time Market Charts & Analysis 
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