How a trader just made $2.4 million in half an hour (2024)

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to clarify the timeline of the trade in the context of a tweet and a Dow Jones Newswire headline.

In a very well-timed trade, a trader made over $2 million in just 28 minutes, playing what could be one of the biggest tech deals this year.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Intel was in talks to buy competitor chipmaker Altera. Shares of Altera soared 28 percent when the report was released, valuing the company at $13.4 billion by the end of trading on Friday.

For one trader, the news event allowed for incredible profits in a very short amount of time.

At 3:32:38 p.m. ET, a Dow Jones headline crossed the newswire reporting that Intel was in talks to buy Altera. Within the same second, a trader jumped into the options market and aggressively bought calls. The buying centered around the April 36-strike call, where 3,158 call contracts were purchased for around 35 cents each just before the stock was halted at 3:32:56.

Within the same minute, at 3:32:58, Journal M&A reporter Dana Mattioli tweeted about the story.

Dana Mattioli ✔ @DanaMattioli
Intel is in talks to buy Altera. Deal would be largest in Intel's history. Scoop w/ @danacimilluca coming to http://WSJ.com $ALTR

Once Altera reopened for trading at 3:37, it soared into the end of the trading day, closing 28 percent higher than it traded just a half hour before the close and creating instant riches for the owner of those calls.

The April 36-strike calls that were bought for 35 cents dramatically increased in value, and by the close of trading were worth $8.10. Since a call contract controls one hundred shares, the owner of those call was looking at a paper profit of close to $2.5 million, or a return of 2200 percent.

According to CNBC contributor Mike Khouw, the buyer of these calls was likely using an automated trading program.

"A bot is not as outlandish as it sounds," Khouw said. "Traders need to aggregate and filter through tremendous amounts of data quickly and will rely on technology to help if it is available."

Should the deal in fact occur, it would be the largest-ever acquisition for Intel.

Neither Intel nor Altera has responded to requests for comment by CNBC.

An Altera display at a trade show last year.

Source: Altera

How a trader just made $2.4 million in half an hour (2024)

FAQs

What is the winning rate of successful traders? ›

In summary, if you want to make a living from day trading, your odds are probably around 4% with adequate capital and investing multiple hours every day honing your method over six months or more (once you have a method to even work on).

How long did it take you to become a successful day trader? ›

Not to be dismal, but only about 4% of people will make it as successful day traders. Further, it takes about six months to a year of hard work before seeing those consistent profits. Like life, consistently profitable in the stock market is not a destination.

How hard is it to become a full-time day trader? ›

Day trading is tough. A University of Berkeley study found that 75% of day traders quit within two years. The same study found that the majority of trades, up to 80%, are unprofitable. While some day traders end up successful and make a lot of money, they are the exception rather than the norm.

How did you become a full-time trader? ›

Only if your trading account is large enough, you will be able to make the transition to full-time trading. Here it is also important to know your historical performance; how much return can you generate per year with your trading?

Which type of trader is most successful? ›

The most successful trader is a closed figure. He rarely appears in public.

How much money do day traders with $10,000 accounts make per day on average? ›

On average, day traders with $10,000 accounts can make $200-$600 per day, with skilled traders aiming for 2%-5% returns daily. So, it is possible to achieve a daily profit of $200 to $600 with a $10,000 account.

How many trades can a day trader make in one day? ›

A day trader might make 100 to a few hundred trades in a day, depending on the strategy and how frequently attractive opportunities appear. With so many trades, it's important that day traders keep costs low — our online broker comparison tool can help narrow the options.

How long should a day trader stay in a trade? ›

Day traders typically target stocks, options, futures, commodities, or currencies (including crypto). They enter and exit positions within the same day (hence the term day traders). They hold positions for hours, minutes, or even seconds before selling them. They rarely hold positions overnight.

Can I make a living as a day trader? ›

In theory, day trading offers the opportunity to earn a lot of money in a short period of time. However, the chances are extremely poor: only around 3 % make profits in the long term. The vast majority of traders lose large sums of money through day trading.

Who is the best day trader in the world? ›

Who is the most successful day trader? There are a lot of successful traders but Jesse Livermore is often regarded as the most successful day trader. His success came from trading on the capital earned by himself and by trading on setups made by himself.

Can a day trader be a millionaire? ›

While it's possible to become a millionaire through day trading, it's not likely. Most traders end up losing money in the long run. A small number of traders, however, are able to consistently make money and achieve success.

What are the golden rules of trading? ›

Key Rules from Iconic Traders

Trade with the trend: Follow the market's direction. Do not trade every day: Only trade when the market conditions are favorable. Follow a trading plan: Stick to your strategy without deviating based on emotions. Never average down: Avoid adding to a losing position.

Is trading worth it? ›

Trading is often viewed as a high barrier-to-entry profession, but as long as you have both ambition and patience, you can trade for a living (even with little to no money). Trading can become a full-time career opportunity, a part-time opportunity, or just a way to generate supplemental income.

Which strategy is best for trading? ›

Best trading strategies
  • Trend trading.
  • Range trading.
  • Breakout trading.
  • Reversal trading.
  • Gap trading.
  • Pairs trading.
  • Arbitrage.
  • Momentum trading.

What is a good win rate for traders? ›

Winning 30 out of 100 is a 30% win rate. Most professional traders have a win rate near 50% or less. They are profitable because they make more on winning trades than they lose on losing trades.

What percentage of people become successful traders? ›

Around 1% – 20% of traders earn a profitable margin at the end of the day. The low success rate often discourages the newbies who learn new ways from an online course or television. Studies have shown that around 97% of day traders have lost their money in two years.

What are the odds of being a successful trader? ›

With the guidance of a good coach or mentor, the day trading success rate can be an average of 9%. This of course, depends on the coach, and the attitude and effort of the trader. Some coaches may offer no extra benefit in trading success rates, while others can increase your rate to over 20%.

What are the odds of winning in trading? ›

In trading the probability of a successful trade is normally between 40%-60%. It depends on different market conditions and timing or trades.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Moshe Kshlerin

Last Updated:

Views: 5800

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Moshe Kshlerin

Birthday: 1994-01-25

Address: Suite 609 315 Lupita Unions, Ronnieburgh, MI 62697

Phone: +2424755286529

Job: District Education Designer

Hobby: Yoga, Gunsmithing, Singing, 3D printing, Nordic skating, Soapmaking, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Moshe Kshlerin, I am a gleaming, attractive, outstanding, pleasant, delightful, outstanding, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.