11. Difference Between Intraday & Positional Futures Trading
Futures trading allows traders to speculate on the price of assets like indices (Nifty, Bank Nifty), commodities (Gold, Crude), or stocks.
There are two main trading styles in futures:
Intraday Futures Trading – same-day trades
Positional Futures Trading – multi-day or till expiry trades
Let’s break down the differences, strategies, risks, and examples.
1. Intraday Futures Trading
What is it?
Buying and selling futures contracts within the same trading day.
All positions are closed before the market closes (3:30 PM in India).
Characteristics
No overnight risk
High leverage for small moves
Focus on technical indicators and fast decision-making
Risks
High risk due to market volatility
Losses can be fast if stop-loss isn’t maintained
Best For
Experienced traders
Quick thinkers
Those who can dedicate full time during market hours
2. Positional Futures Trading
What is it?
Futures contracts are held for more than one day – from a few days up to the contract's expiry (monthly in India).
Characteristics
Requires margin for overnight exposure
Combines fundamental + technical analysis
Used for swing trades, event-based trades, or trend following
Risks
Overnight news/events (e.g., RBI policy, global market crash) can impact position
Requires larger capital to absorb volatility
Best For
Traders with strong analytical skills
People who can’t monitor markets all day
Less stressful, slower-paced traders
3. Intraday vs Positional – Comparison Table
Criteria
Intraday Futures
Positional Futures
Holding Period
Same day
More than 1 day to expiry
Capital Required
Lower (MIS orders, leverage allowed)
Higher (SPAN + exposure margin)
Risk
High – sudden intraday moves
Moderate to High – overnight risks
Return Potential
Small but frequent profits
Larger profits per trade
Analysis Used
Charts, price action, indicators
Charts + fundamental news/trends
Stop Loss
Extremely important
Important but wider SL allowed
Effort
Full attention during the day
Less active monitoring needed
Suitable For
Active day traders
Swing/trend traders or part-time traders
4. Real-life Examples
Intraday Trade
Buy Nifty Futures @ 22,100 (9:30 AM)
Sell @ 22,180 (2:30 PM)
Profit = ₹80 × 50 (lot size) = ₹4,000
Positional Trade
Buy Nifty Futures @ 22,100 (Monday)
Sell @ 22,580 (Friday)
Profit = ₹480 × 50 = ₹24,000
(Assumes 1 lot in both cases)
5. Conclusion
Intraday Trading
Positional Trading
Quick profits, higher risk
Bigger profits, requires patience
Needs active screen time
Suitable for part-time traders too
Best for scalpers, short-term view
Best for swing traders, trend followers
Choose based on your time, risk appetite, and trading goals.