No, the transaction you described would not be considered a day trade. Here's why:
- Definition of Day Trade: A day trade occurs when an investor buys and sells (or sells and buys) the same security within a margin account on the same day1. In your case, you bought 10 shares of a stock today and then sold the shares tomorrow, which does not meet the definition of a day trade since the transaction occurred across two days.
- Pattern Day Trader Rule: The FINRA rule defining a pattern day trader is based on the number of day trades executed within a five-business-day period, provided that the number of day trades represents more than 6% of the customer's total trading activity during that period2. Since your transaction occurred on two separate days, it would not contribute to the calculation of day trades for the purpose of the pattern day trader rule.
- Minimum Equity Requirement: The $25,000 minimum equity requirement for pattern day traders applies only to margin accounts and is relevant only when day trading within a five-business-day period2. As your transaction occurred on two separate days, it would not be subject to this requirement.
In conclusion, your transaction involving the purchase of 10 shares today and the sale of the same shares tomorrow does not constitute a day trade. The definition of a day trade requires that the buying and selling of the security occur within the same day, and since your transaction spanned two days, it does not meet this criterion.