Margin

Risk

Margin is the collateral required to open and hold a leveraged position.

Margin is the collateral required to open and hold a leveraged position. Initial margin is required to open a trade; maintenance margin must be sustained to keep it open. In futures, margin is set by the exchange and adjusted dynamically with volatility; in forex, margin is set by the broker.

For prop traders, margin requirements determine maximum position size and interact with the firm''s buying-power and leverage rules. Margin spikes during volatile periods can force position reductions even when the trader''s strategy is otherwise compliant.

Keep going

Put this term to work