The day trader immediately punches a button, and a buy order is executed for 1,000 shares of XYZ within seconds. At the same time, the day trader may place an order to sell the same stock at a quarter-point higher. If the market starts to move up, the sell order is executed, and the trader walks away with a neat 25 cents gain on every share that's purchased. Find a market maker whose pricing is not moving in line with the other market makers, and the bandits are ready to strike. At firms focused on NYSE stocks, individuals may be able to enter into an arrangement that affords them a lot of leverage.
Some day traders have lucrative careers, but a big payoff is far from a sure thing.
Still, the allure of being your own boss, and the expectation of grinding out a good living on eighths and quarters, may give this craze staying power.