Published 18 August 2026 · By the PCJ Desk · about 6 min read · General educational information, not investment advice.
When you buy a share you can do it in two modes: intraday (buy and sell within the same trading day) or delivery (buy and hold the shares in your demat account). Same stock, very different risk and cost. Knowing the difference is essential before you place your first order.
What is delivery trading?
Delivery trading means you buy shares and take delivery — they are credited to your demat account (under India’s T+1 settlement) and stay yours until you sell. You pay the full amount, there is no time pressure to exit, and you can hold for days, months or years. This is how long-term investing works — see delivery trading.
What is intraday trading?
Intraday trading means you square off (sell what you bought, or buy back what you sold) before the market closes the same day. Because positions don’t go to delivery, brokers offer margin (leverage), so you can take a larger position with less money — which magnifies both gains and losses. See intraday trading.
How they differ
Holding: delivery — you own the shares; intraday — no ownership, positions close daily. Money: delivery needs the full value; intraday runs on margin. Risk: delivery risk is the stock’s price over time; intraday adds leverage and time pressure, so losses can mount fast. Cost: intraday usually has lower brokerage per trade but you trade more often; delivery has demat charges. Auto square-off: open intraday positions are auto-closed by the broker near market close if you don’t exit.
Which suits a beginner?
Delivery is far friendlier for beginners: no leverage, no daily deadline, and it aligns with investing rather than speculation. Intraday is fast-paced and high-risk — most new traders lose money using leverage without a plan. If you are starting out, learn with delivery and small amounts first. Compare charges on PCJ pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I own the shares in intraday trading?
No — intraday positions are squared off the same day and never reach your demat account; only delivery trades give you ownership.
Is intraday riskier than delivery?
Yes — leverage and the same-day deadline make intraday higher-risk; delivery lets you hold without time pressure.
Can I convert an intraday trade to delivery?
Often yes, before the cut-off, if you have the full funds — check your platform; PCJ Invest supports this.
Where PCJ fits. PCJ Holdings is a SEBI-registered stock broker and NSDL depository participant, headquartered in New Delhi and serving investors across Delhi NCR since 2006 — with a dedicated relationship manager, one account across equity, F&O, commodity, currency, mutual funds, IPOs and wealth products, and transparent charges. Open an account or talk to an RM.