I don't recommend day trading, but swing trading you can make some money. I would study charts and look for confirming breakouts (buy) or breakdowns (sell short). The problem is you need to be in front of the computer all day...and buy and sell orders are not full proof anymore due to pre market and after market trading. Your order to buy or sell is only good during normal trading hours. for example you own apple at $100 a share (you have a sell stop order in at $95) earnings come out after hours and they are good but not great...stock goes down $25 in after hours...so your stop sell order was useless.
When I traded a lot I would look at volume and news that was great...so I would buy pre-market and sell when the market opens for a gain. A lot of people are just getting to their desks at work they hear the news and buy...stock goes up and I'm out already before it goes back down.
I also recommend learning Japanese Candlestick charts and technical analysis. Oh and don't listen to those clowns on CNBC and follow the heard of other bad investors.
Even pro traders lose in the market otherwise they would not be still working for hedge funds but trading for themselves at home.
I am going to recommend 2 websites study them and learn and you will make money.
http://tradermike.net/
http://www.thekirkreport.com/
I like etrade and go with their Pro trading platform for great tools.