I'm starting a business. Can I offset business expenses from short term capital gains from selling stocks?

[joshkaric]

I will incur business startup expenses this year.  I am also trying to build capital by selling stocks.  How can I offset the shortterm capital gains tax with the business startup expenses so that I'm not just giving it all to the IRS?

[Bsch4477]

A short term capital loss will first be used to offset capital short and then long term gains. Any amount remaining offsets combined income in an amount up to $3,000. Any remaining loss is carried over to the next year.  

[Mike9241]

if you have both net short term and long term gains the ordinary losses will first offset net short-term gains and any excess of ordinary losses will then offset long-term gains and qualified dividends.