Day trading stock market from Hua Hin

[Vandoug]

Hello,
Wondering if there are any expats day trading from Thailand who could provide some information on how viable it is. I plan to spend several months in Hua Hin and woudl like to trade the Nasdaq market.
I understand the latency issue - has it been a problem? I hear power outages are common - is that true and is there a time of day that it occurs the most? Is there a preferred ISP? What time of day is the interent connection the slowest?
Thanks in advance!

[MrPlum]

Wondering if there are any expats day trading from Thailand who could provide some information on how viable it is.

I traded the Nasdaq for 4 years using 'Thinkorswim' trading platform. Only recall a few rare connection problems and only one where it cost me. Usually if there is rain in the area, you may lose the connection. I also found the online version of the software quite slow. AFAIK it doesn't matter whether you have 1MB download speed or 10MB, those speeds only apply to local sites and servers. International servers are limited by bandwidth so it doesn't matter whether you get the cheapest or dearest package, the performance is pretty much the same. Others on here may have more expertise on this.

If you're using stops, you've at least got some protection. Biggest challenges for me weren't connectivity but criminality.

Amateur day traders lose most of their money in the first year and the good ones (who think they know it all) lose it all within 3. If you think you can beat naked shorting, flash-trading, front-running trades, market makers running stops, analysts rating junk a 'BUY', 'pump and dump' schemes, story stocks, the plunge protection team moving a market up when it should be sinking like a stone, boiler-room bashers and whipsawing, then you might make some money.

'Pigs get slaughtered', as they say, so take your profits, limit losses, resist over-trading and don't put all your eggs in one basket. I enjoyed the 'entertainment' value, despite losing. It can be a white-knuckle ride.

One thing you do learn the hard way, is just like taking up with a lady of the night. Only invest what you can afford to lose.

[Vandoug]

Great info Mr Plum, thanks!
You are so right about all the traps in the market. However, I think the biggest trap of all is "Greed".
I've been day trading for two years (profitable) and beginning to maintain the discipline needed to keep from getting burned. You're right, the percentage of amateur traders making money is small, it's like starting a business, most fail in three years. So I've got one more year to get over the hump!

I live in Canada and use a Questrade platform that is not web based. Are you still living in Hua Hin? If you have any other advice about moving there for six months I would love to hear it.

Thanks again!