The Differences Between Day & Initial Margin in Futures

So, suppose the equity value falls below the maintenance margin requirement. In that case, the firm issues a margin call to make the investor deposit the amount required to increase the equity value sufficient to meet the maintenance margin. This scenario also adds a point to the initial margin vs. variation margin.

Rather, the initial margin for a crude oil contract could be around $5,000 per contract as determined by the exchange. This is the initial amount the trader must place in the account to open a position. You both agree to each other’s initial margin requirements and post the collateral to each other. In derivatives trading, initial margin is collateral exchanged at the beginning of the contract to protect a party from the possibility of default of its counterparty. Variation margin is another 10 best blockchain stocks to buy type of collateral, paid every day throughout the life of the contract by whichever side of the trade is losing to reflect the current market value of the trade. Continuing with the previous example, imagine that the price of the stock doubled to $20 per share.

The two both relate to the amount of cash vs. the acy superior for trading, an australia trademark of acy capital pty ltd application number amount you can borrow when investing. In other words, you can’t borrow more than half the price of the investment. Securities in the margin account are paid for with cash loaned to the account holder by the brokerage firm and are designated as collateral.

Both payment streams are based on a given notional amount, and the interest payments are netted. Variation margin is transferred daily from one side of the trade to the other, to reflect the present value of the trade. Both have the main goal of protecting one party what are good penny stocks to invest in from the default of the other counterparty.

MANAGING YOUR MONEY

The investor’s equity would be only $1,500, or 30 percent of the value of the margin account. If the price of the stock declined further, the investor would hold less than 30 percent equity. At that point, the investor would receive a margin call from the brokerage firm. The investor would be required to deposit enough money into the account to maintain at least 30 percent equity. Essentially, it is the collateral amount that enables the investor to borrow additional money to purchase securities.

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The investor will need to repay the brokerage firm the $3,500 for the loan, leaving $16,500 after an initial investment of $6,500. While the stock increased in value by 100 percent, the investor’s $6,500 increased in value by more than 150 percent. Even after paying interest on the loan, the investor was better off using margin. Maintenance margin helps ensure account holders maintain collateral in the account should the value of their securities fall.

Initial Margin Calculation

1. Primarily it initiates the leveraged trading process enabling the opening of larger positions using minimum capital from the investor end.
2. Regulation T requirements are only a minimum, and many brokerage firms require more cash from investors upfront.
3. Initial margin on the other hand, depends on the choice of model and its assumptions.
4. Initial margin (IM) is the collateral a counterparty pays to a bank to cover the risk it represents.

Primarily it initiates the leveraged trading process enabling the opening of larger positions using minimum capital from the investor end. In addition, it acts as collateral to the brokerage firm, and the investors benefit by having increased purchasing power since they can buy more securities which otherwise not affordable. In futures, it means the amount charged by the stock exchange to initiate a futures position. It is only done through a margin account created with the stock exchange as per the margin regulations. In contrast, the initial margin requirement for securities, in general, is approximately 50%. Initial margin refers to the equity to be contributed by the investor trading on margin to the margin account, and it is expressed as a percentage of the total purchase price.

Anything above that threshold and the MTA is variation margin to be paid. It eliminates the need for each firm to develop its own margin calculation methodology. The initial margin required is usually the sum of the top couple of losses, or a result selected according to the confidence interval wanted (usually 90-99%). Usually, the recipient of initial margin cannot reuse it for new investments. Instead, the amounts are segregated and go to a custodian who holds the posted collateral.

The stocks the trader has purchased then serve as collateral for the loan. An investor who buys stocks on margin must establish a margin account with their broker, which allows them to borrow funds from their broker without paying the full value for each trade. Regulation T requirements are only a minimum, and many brokerage firms require more cash from investors upfront.

Because of this, internal margin models may differ significantly, making it possible for two firms to get significantly different initial margin figures for the same trade. Firms calculate variation margin based on the day-to-day valuation changes directly observable on the market. Initial margin on the other hand, depends on the choice of model and its assumptions. The winner and loser of the trade can shift at any time, triggering variation margin payments from either participant of the trade. Under the CSA, there will usually also be a threshold up until which no collateral is required.

What is Initial Margin?

Additionally, initial margin should be segregated (meaning paid to a custodian, as opposed to directly between counterparties) and cannot be reused for investment purposes. A party only has exposure to the other if the market value of derivatives contract moved in its favor. The counterparty losing the trade at the time owes money, so they have no exposure. Initial margin protects both parties against the potential future exposure of the other. This exposure is a result of future fluctuations in the price of the underlying asset of the contract. And when the exposure is above the Minimum Transfer Amount (MTA), the loser of the trade at the time will post variation margin to the winner.

You are exposed to the bank and are facing a potential loss if they default and fail to pay what they owe you. If the value of the trade shifts in your favor far enough (above the MTA), the bank will transfer variation margin to you, reducing your exposure. Both initial margin and variation margin ensure both parties are adequately covered against potential losses.