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| What is Margin Trading |
In the field of finance, "margin" refers to the amount of collateral that an investor must provide to their broker or exchange to offset the credit risk that the investor poses to the broker or exchange. This credit risk arises when the investor borrows money from the broker to purchase financial instruments, borrows financial instruments to sell them short, or enters into a derivative contract.
When an investor purchases an asset by borrowing the remaining balance from a broker, it is referred to as "buying on margin." The initial payment made by the investor to the broker for the asset is also considered the "margin," and the investor uses their marginable securities held in their brokerage account as collateral.
In a business context, the margin is the amount of money that is made from the sale of a product or service after subtracting the cost of production, or how much profit is made from the revenue. Additionally, margin can refer to the extra interest rate that is added to an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) above the adjustment-index rate.
Understanding Margin and Marging Trading
Margin is the amount of money that an investor has in their brokerage account. To "margin" or "buy on margin" is to use money borrowed from a broker to purchase securities that exceed the balance of the investor's account. Doing so requires opening a margin account as opposed to a traditional brokerage account. A margin account is a special type of account that allows brokers to lend money to the investor for purchasing securities.
Using margin to purchase securities is like taking out a loan, using the current cash or securities already in your account as collateral. The loan you take out will require you to pay a periodic interest rate. Since you are using borrowed money, any profits or losses you make off of the investment will be magnified. Margin investing may be useful if you expect to make more money off of the investment than what you are required to pay in interest.
As an example, suppose you have a margin account with an initial margin requirement of 60%. If you wish to buy securities worth $10,000, you would need to provide a margin of $6,000, and the broker would lend you the remaining amount.
It is important to note that the Securities and Exchange Commission has warned that margin accounts can be highly risky and may not be suitable for everyone.
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Buying on Margin
Purchasing stocks on margin involves borrowing funds from a broker to complete the transaction. Essentially, it is a loan provided by the brokerage. Margin trading enables you to acquire a larger quantity of stocks than you would be able to with just your own capital. However, you must have a margin account to engage in this practice, which differs from a standard cash account where trades are executed using the available funds in the account.
- Minimum Margin
The law mandates that your broker must receive your consent before opening a margin account. This account may be established as part of your standard account opening agreement, or it could be a distinct agreement. To open a margin account, you are expected to make an initial investment of at least $2,000, although certain brokerages may demand a larger amount. This deposit is referred to as the minimum margin.
- Initial Margin
After opening and activating the margin account, you have the option to borrow up to 50% of the stock's purchase price. The portion of the purchase price that you initially deposit is known as the initial margin. It's worth noting that you are not obligated to margin up to the maximum 50%; you can choose to borrow a smaller amount, such as 10% or 25%. However, some brokerages may require you to deposit more than 50% of the purchase price.
As long as you meet your obligations, such as making timely interest payments on the borrowed funds, you can maintain the loan for as long as you want. When you sell the stock in a margin account, the proceeds are utilized to repay the loan to your broker until it is fully settled.
- Maintenance Margin and Margin Call
Another important consideration is the maintenance margin, which represents the minimum account balance that must be maintained to avoid a margin call. In the event that the account balance falls below this threshold, the broker may demand that you deposit additional funds or sell off stocks to repay the loan, which is known as a margin call. Essentially, the margin call is a request from your brokerage for you to add money to your account or liquidate positions to restore the account to the necessary level. Failure to fulfill the margin call may result in your brokerage closing out open positions to restore the account to the minimum value. This process may be executed without your consent, and the brokerage has the authority to determine which position(s) to liquidate.
Moreover, your brokerage may impose a commission fee for the transaction(s). You are held accountable for any losses incurred during this procedure, and your brokerage has the authority to sell enough shares or contracts to exceed the initial margin requirement.
Special Considerations
Using margin involves borrowing money and incurs associated costs. The securities held in the account serve as collateral for the loan. The primary cost of using margin is the interest charged on the borrowed amount. This interest is automatically applied to the account, unless payments are made to reduce the debt. As time passes, interest charges accumulate, increasing the overall debt level. As the debt level increases, so do the interest charges, creating a cycle. As a result, margin is typically used for short-term investments. The longer an investment is held on margin, the higher the return required to break even. If an investment is held on margin for an extended period of time, the odds of making a profit become increasingly unfavorable.
The ability to purchase stocks on margin is not universal, as the Federal Reserve Board oversees and regulates which stocks qualify for margin trading. Generally speaking, brokers will prohibit customers from purchasing penny stocks, over-the-counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) securities, and initial public offerings (IPOs) on margin due to the high level of day-to-day risks associated with these types of stocks. It's important to note that individual brokerages may also have their own specific restrictions on which stocks can be margined, so it's advisable to consult with them to determine any applicable restrictions on your margin account.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Margin Trading
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Advantages of Margin Trading
Investors often engage in margin trading to take advantage of leverage. By using their capital as collateral for loans larger than the amount of cash on hand, investors can increase their purchasing power to buy more securities. This is in contrast to buying securities solely with their own cash.
Margin trading can lead to increased profits as investors hold more securities with the potential for greater gains. Because investors are more heavily invested through debt, even small increases in value can result in significant returns. Additionally, if the value of the securities posted as collateral also increases, investors may be able to access even more leverage, as the value of their collateral has grown.
Compared to other forms of borrowing, margin trading typically offers greater flexibility. Repayment schedules may not be fixed, and the maintenance margin requirements set by your broker may be simplified or automated. In most cases, the margin loan remains open until the securities are sold, at which point final payments are due from the borrower.
Disadvantages of Margin
While margin trading can amplify gains for investors, it also amplifies losses, making it important for investors to understand the risks involved. In the event that the value of securities purchased on margin rapidly declines, investors may not only lose their initial equity investment but also owe additional capital to lenders. Furthermore, margin trading can be costly, as brokers often charge interest expenses on the borrowed funds, regardless of how the margin account is performing.
Investors may face a margin call due to margin and equity requirements set by their broker. This means they are required to deposit additional funds into their margin account because of the decrease in equity value of securities being held. As a result, investors must be aware of the need for extra capital to meet a margin call.
If investors are unable to contribute additional equity or if the value of their account drops so rapidly that it breaches certain margin requirements, a forced liquidation may occur. During a forced liquidation, the securities purchased on margin are sold, which could result in losses to satisfy the broker's requirements.
Margin Trading
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- Advantages:
- Margin trading can result in greater gains due to leverage.
- It increases purchasing power.
- Margin trading is often more flexible than other types of loans.
- Margin trading may create a self-fulfilling cycle where increases in collateral value lead to more leverage opportunities.
- Disadvantages:
- Margin trading may result in greater losses due to leverage.
- It incurs account fees and interest charges.
- Margin trading may result in margin calls, which require additional equity investments.
- Margin trading may result in forced liquidations, which can result in the sale of securities (often at a loss).
In business accounting, the term "margin" refers to the difference between a company's revenue and its expenses. Businesses usually monitor three types of margins: gross profit margins, operating margins, and net profit margins.
The gross profit margin measures the relationship between a company's revenue and the cost of goods sold (COGS). The operating profit margin takes into account both COGS and operating expenses and compares them with the revenue generated. The net profit margin considers all expenses, including taxes and interest, and calculates the profit after deducting these expenses from the revenue.
- Margin in Mortgage Lending
In mortgage lending, the term "margin" refers to the additional percentage that a lender adds to an established index to determine the interest rate on an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). An ARM typically offers a fixed interest rate for a set period, after which the rate adjusts according to the index rate plus the margin. While the index rate changes over time, the margin usually remains fixed throughout the life of the loan. For example, if a mortgage has a margin of 4% and is indexed to the Treasury Index, and the Treasury Index is 6%, the interest rate on the mortgage would be 10% (6% index rate plus 4% margin).
What Does It Mean to Trade on Margin?
Trading on margin means using borrowed money from a brokerage firm to execute trades. In this process, investors initially deposit cash that serves as collateral for the loan and then continue to make interest payments on the borrowed funds. This loan enables investors to increase their purchasing power, enabling them to buy more securities than they would have been able to with their own funds alone. The securities bought automatically serve as collateral for the margin loan.
What Are Some Other Meanings of the Term Margin?
In addition to its use in margin lending, the term "margin" has other meanings in finance. It can be a general term used to describe different types of profit margins, including gross profit margin, pre-tax profit margin, and net profit margin. Additionally, the term may be used to describe interest rates or risk premiums in certain contexts.
What Are the Risks of Trading on Margin?
Trading on margin comes with various risks, one of which is the potential for investors to lose more money than what they have deposited into the margin account. This situation can arise when the value of the securities held in the margin account drops, requiring the investor to either provide additional funds or face a forced sale of the securities. Additionally, margin calls and interest payments can add to the overall cost of trading on margin. High levels of margin trading can also contribute to market volatility and lead to destabilizing effects on the financial system.
The Bottom Line
Investors who seek to increase the potential for gains and losses in their trades may opt for margin trading. This involves borrowing funds from a broker, depositing cash as collateral, and executing trades using borrowed money. By using debt and leverage, margin trading may yield greater profits than if the investor had only used personal funds. However, if the value of securities decreases, the investor may be required to pay back more than the collateral they offered.
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Source: https://www.investopedia.com
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