Warning: include(http://www.margin-call.net/en/top.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /home/adcittac/public_html/fx-track/en/edu/futures/margins.php on line 10

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.margin-call.net/en/top.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/adcittac/public_html/fx-track/en/edu/futures/margins.php on line 10

Warning: include(http://www.margin-call.net/en/left-menu.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /home/adcittac/public_html/fx-track/en/edu/futures/margins.php on line 13

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.margin-call.net/en/left-menu.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/adcittac/public_html/fx-track/en/edu/futures/margins.php on line 13
Margins




Warning: include(http://www.margin-call.net/en/edu/style.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /home/adcittac/public_html/fx-track/en/edu/futures/margins.php on line 28

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.margin-call.net/en/edu/style.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/adcittac/public_html/fx-track/en/edu/futures/margins.php on line 28
As is apparent from the preceding discussion, the arithmetic of leverage is the arithmetic of margins. An understanding of margins—and of the several different kinds of margin—is essential to an understanding of futures trading.

If your previous investment experience has mainly involved common stocks, you know that the term margin—as used in connection with securities— has to do with the cash down payment and money borrowed from a broker to purchase stocks. But used in connection with futures trading, margin has an altogether different meaning and serves an altogether different purpose.

Rather than providing a down payment, the margin required to buy or sell a futures contract is solely a deposit of good faith money that can be drawn on by your brokerage firm to cover losses that you may incur in the course of futures trading. It is much like money held in an escrow account.

Minimum margin requirements for a particular futures contract at a particular time are set by the exchange on which the contract is traded. They are typically about five percent of the current value of the futures contract.

Exchanges continuously monitor market conditions and risks and, as necessary, raise or reduce their margin requirements. Individual brokerage firms may require higher margin amounts from their customers than the exchange-set minimums.

There are two margin-related terms you should know: initial margin and maintenance margin. Initial margin (sometimes called original margin) is the sum of money that the customer must deposit with the brokerage firm for each futures contract to be bought or sold. On any day that profits accrue on your open positions, the profits will be added to the balance in your margin account. On any day losses accrue, the losses will be deducted from the balance in your margin account.

If and when the funds remaining available in your margin account are reduced by losses to below a certain level—known as the maintenance margin requirement — your broker will require that you deposit additional funds to bring the account back to the level of the initial margin. You may also be asked for additional margin if the exchange or your brokerage firm raises its margin requirements. Requests for additional margin are known as margin calls.



source: National Futures Association

Warning: include(http://www.margin-call.net/en/edu/description.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /home/adcittac/public_html/fx-track/en/edu/futures/margins.php on line 122

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.margin-call.net/en/edu/description.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/adcittac/public_html/fx-track/en/edu/futures/margins.php on line 122








Warning: include(http://www.margin-call.net/en/stat.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /home/adcittac/public_html/fx-track/en/edu/futures/margins.php on line 132

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.margin-call.net/en/stat.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/adcittac/public_html/fx-track/en/edu/futures/margins.php on line 132