Risk Based Margin Considerations

  LLC Risk Based (i.e. Portfolio Margin)  Non-LLC Risk Based Margin
$110,000 initial value requirement Yes N/A
Minimum equity to operate on margin USD 100,000 IB-HK: USD 2,000
IB-AU: AUD 2,000
IB-LUX, IB-IE and IB-CE: EUR 2,000
IB-SG: SGD 2,000
 
Full options trading approval Yes N/A
PDT         Yes N/A
Stress testing Yes Yes
Dynamic House Scanning Charges (TOMS) ¹ Yes Yes
Shifts in option Implied Volatility (IV)  Yes Yes
A $0.375 multiplied by the index per contract minimum is computed (Only applied to Portfolio Margin eligble products) Yes Yes
Initial margin will be 110% of Maintenance Margin (US securities only) Yes Yes
Initial margin will be 125% of Maintenance Margin (Non-US securities) Yes Yes
Extreme Price Scans Yes Yes
Large Position Charge (A position which is 1% or more of shares outstanding)  Yes Yes
Days to Liquidate (A large position in relation to the average daily trading volume, which may result in higher initial margin requirements) Yes Yes
Global Concentration Charge (2 riskiest position stressed +/-30% remaining assets +/-5%) Yes Yes
Singleton Margin Method for Small Cap Stocks (Stress Test which simulates a price change reflective of a $500 million USD in market capitalization)² Yes Yes
Singleton Margin Method for stocks domiciled in China (Stress Test which simulates a price change reflective of a $1.5 billion USD in market capitalization)² Yes Yes
Default Singleton Margin Method (Stress Test which simulates a price change +30% and down -25%)² Yes Yes
Singleton Margin Method for HK Real Estate Stocks (Stress test  +/-50%)² Yes Yes

1  Dynamic House Scanning Charges are available only on select exchanges (Asian Exchanges and MEXDER)
2  IBKR will calculate the potential loss for each stock and its derivates by subjecting them to a stress test. The requirement for the stock (and its derivatives) which projects the greatest loss in the above scenario will be compared to what would otherwise be the aggregate portfolio margin requirement, and the greater of the two will be the margin requirement for the portfolio
 

 

U.S. 2020 Election Margin Increase

In light of the potential market volatility associated with the upcoming United States presidential election,  Interactive Brokers will implement an increase in the margin requirement for all U.S. traded equity index futures and derivatives and Dow Jones Futures listed on the OSE.JPN exchange.

Clients holding a position in a U.S. equity index future and their derivatives and/or Down Jones Futures listed on the OSE.JPN exchange should expect the margin requirement to increase by approximately 35% above the normal margin requirement. The increase is scheduled to be implemented gradually over a 20-calendar day period with the maintenance margin increase starting on October 5, 2020 through October 30, 2020.

The table below provides examples of the margin increases projected for some of the more widely held products 

Future Symbol
Description Listing Exchange Trading Class Current Rate (Price scan range)* Projected Rate (Price scan range)
ES E-mini S&P 500 CME ES 7.13 9.63
YM MINI DJIA CBOT YM 6.14 8.29
RTY Russell 2000 CME RTY 6.79 9.17
NQ NASDAQ E-MINI CME NQ 6.57 8.87
DJIA OSE Dow Jones Industrial Average OSE.JPN DJIA 5.14 6.94

 *As of 10/2/20 open.

 

NOTE: IBKR's Risk Navigator can help you determine the impact the new maintenance margin requirements will have on your current portfolio or any other portfolio you would like to construct or test. For more information about the Alternative Margin Calculator feature, please see KB Article 2957: Risk Navigator: Alternative Margin Calculator and from the margin mode setting in Risk Navigator, select " US Election Margin".

 

Overview of Central Bank of Ireland CFD Rules Implementation for Retail Clients at IBIE

Overview: 

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.

66.3% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with IBKR.

You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) enacted new rules applicable to retail clients trading CFDs, effective 1st August 2019. Professional clients are unaffected.

The rules consist of: 1) leverage limits; 2) a margin close out rule on a per account basis; 3) negative balance protection on a per account basis; 4) a restriction on the incentives offered to trade CFDs; and 5) a standardized risk warning.

Most clients (excepting regulated entities) are initially categorised as Retail Clients. IBKR may in certain circumstances agree to reclassify a Retail Client as a Professional Client, or a Professional Client as a Retail Client. Please see MiFID Categorisation for further detail.

The following sections detail how IBKR has implemented the CBI Decision.

1 Leverage Limits

 1.1 Margins
Leverage limits were set by CBI at different levels depending on the underlying:

  • 3.33% for major currency pairs; Major currency pairs are any combination of USD; CAD; EUR; GBP; CHF; JPY
  • 5% for:
    • Non-major currency pairs are any combination that includes a currency not listed above, e.g., USD.CNH
    • Major indices are IBUS500; IBUS30; IBUST100; IBGB100; IBDE40; IBEU50; IBFR40; IBJP225; IBAU200
    • Gold
  • 10% for non-major equity indices; IBES35; IBCH20; IBNL25; IBHK50
  • 20% for individual equities

 1.2 Applied Margins - Standard Requirement

In addition to the CBI Margins, IBKR establishes its own margin requirements (IB Margins) based on the historical volatility of the underlying, and other factors. We will apply the IB Margins if they are higher than those prescribed by CBI .

Details of applicable IB and CBI margins can be found here.

1.2.1 Applied Margins - Concentration Minimum

A concentration charge is applied if your portfolio consists of a small number of CFD and/or Stock positions, or if the three largest positions have a dominant weight. We stress the portfolio by applying a 30% adverse move on the three largest positions and a 5% adverse move on the remaining positions. The total loss is applied as the maintenance margin requirement if it is greater than the standard requirement for the combined Stock and CFD positions. Note that the concentration charge is the only instance where CFD and Stock positions are margined together.

1.3 Funding of Initial Margin Requirements

You can only use cash to post initial margin to open a CFD position.

Initially all cash used to fund the account is available for CFD trading. Any initial margin requirements for other instruments and cash used to purchase cash stock reduce the available cash. If your cash stock purchases have created a margin loan, no funds are available for CFD trades even if your account has significant equity. We cannot increase a margin loan to fund CFD margin under the CBI rules.

Realized CFD profits are included in cash and are available immediately; the cash does not have to settle first. Unrealized profits however cannot be used to meet initial margin requirements.

2 Margin Close Out Rule

2.1 Maintenance Margin Calculations & Liquidations

The CBI requires IBKR to liquidate CFD positions latest when qualifying equity falls below 50% of the initial margin posted to open the positions. IBKR may close out positions sooner if our risk view is more conservative. Qualifying equity for this purpose includes CFD cash and unrealized CFD P&L (positive and negative). Note that CFD cash excludes cash supporting margin requirements for other instruments. 

The basis for the calculation is the initial margin posted at the time of opening a CFD position. In other words, and unlike margin calculations applicable to non-CFD positions, the initial margin amount does not change when the value of the open position changes.

2.1.1 Example

You have EUR 2000 cash in your account and no open positions. You want to buy 100 CFDs of XYZ at a limit price of EUR 100. You are first filled 50 CFDs and then the remaining 50. Your available cash reduces as your trades are filled:

 

Cash

Equity*

Position

Price

Value

Unrealized P&L

IM

MM

Available Cash

MM Violation

Pre Trade

2000

2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

2000

 

Post Trade 1

2000

2000

50

100

5000

0

1000

500

1000

No

Post Trade 2

2000

2000

100

100

10000

0

2000

1000

0

No

 *Equity equals Cash plus Unrealized P&L

The price increases to 110. Your equity is now 3000, but you cannot open additional positions because your available cash is still 0, and under the CBI rules IM and MM remain unchanged:

 

Cash

Equity

Position

Price

Value

Unrealized P&L

IM

MM

Available Cash

MM Violation

Change

2000

3000

100

110

11000

1000

2000

1000

0

No

 The price then drops to 95. Your equity declines to 1500 but there is no margin violation since it is still greater than the 1000 requirement:

 

Cash

Equity

Position

Price

Value

Unrealized P&L

IM

MM

Available Cash

MM Violation

Change

2000

1500

100

95

9500

(500)

2000

1000

0

No

 The price falls further to 85, causing a margin violation and triggering a liquidation:

 

Cash

Equity

Position

Price

Value

Unrealized P&L

IM

MM

Available Cash

MM Violation

Change

2000

500

100

85

8500

(1500)

2000

1000

0

Yes

 3 Negative Equity Protection

The CBI Decision limits your CFD-related liability to the funds dedicated to CFD-trading. Other financial instruments (e.g., shares or futures) cannot be liquidated to satisfy a CFD margin-deficit.*

Therefore, non-CFD assets are not part of your capital at risk for CFD trading. 

Should you lose more than the cash dedicated to CFD trading, IB must write off the loss. 

As Negative Equity Protection represents additional risk to IBKR, we will charge retail investors an additional financing spread of 1% for CFD positions held overnight. You can find detailed CFD financing rates here.

*Although we cannot liquidate non-CFD positions to cover a CFD deficit, we can liquidate CFD positions to cover a non-CFD deficit.

 

Margin Considerations for Intramarket Futures Spreads

Background

Clients who simultaneously hold both long and short positions of a given futures contract having different delivery months are often provided a spread margin rate that is less than the margin requirement for each position if considered separately. However, as the settlement prices of each contract may deviate significantly as the front month contract approaches its close out date, IBKR will reduce the benefit of the spread margin rate to reflect the risk of this price deviation.

 

Spread Margin Adjustment

This reduction is accomplished by effectively decoupling or breaking the spread in phases on each of the 3 business days preceding the close out date of the front contract month, as follows:

  • On the 3rd business day prior to close out, the initial and maintenance margin requirements will be equal to 10% of their respective requirements on each contract month as if there was no spread, plus 90% of the spread requirement;
  • On the 2nd business day prior to close out, the initial and maintenance margin requirements will be equal to 20% of their respective requirements on each contract month as if there was no spread, plus 80% of the spread requirement;
  • On the business day prior to close out, the initial and maintenance margin requirements will be equal to 30% of their respective requirements on each contract month as if there was no spread, plus 70% of the spread requirement.

 

Working Example

Assume a hypothetical futures contract XYZ with the margin requirements as outlined in the table below:

XYZ Front Month - 1 Short Contract (Uncovered) Back Month - 1 Long Contract (Uncovered) Spread - 1 Short Front Month vs. 1 Long Back Month
Initial Margin $1,250 $1,500 $500
Maintenance Margin $1,000 $1,200 $400

Further assume a position consisting of 1 short front month contract and 1 long back month contract with the front month contract close out date = T.  using this hypothetical example, the initial margin requirement over the 3 business day period preceding close out date is outlined in the table below:

Day Initial Margin Requirement Calculation Details
T-4 $500 Unadjusted
T-3 $725 .1($1,250 + $1,500) + .9($500)
T-2 $950 .2($1,250 + $1,500) + .8($500)
T-1 $1,175 .3($1,250 + $1,500) + .7($500)
T $1,175 Positions not in compliance with close out requirements are subject to liquidation.

 

Concentrated Positions in Low Cap Stocks

The margin requirement for accounts holding concentrated positions in low cap stocks is as follows:

  • An alternative stress test will be considered following the margin calculation currently in place. Here, each stock and its derivatives will be subject to a stress test which simulates a price change reflective of a $500 million decrease in capitalization (e.g., 25% in the case of a stock with a market capitalization of $2 billion; 30% for a stock with a market capitalization of $1.5 billion; etc.). Stocks with a market capitalization of $500 million or below will be subject to a stress test as if the price has fallen to $0.
  • For the stock which projects the greatest loss assuming a $500 million decrease in capitalization, that loss will be compared to the initial margin as determined under the preceding calculation for the aggregate portfolio and, if greater, will become the initial margin requirement.
  • If the initial margin requirement is increased, the maintenance margin for that same stock and its derivatives will increase to approximately 90% of the initial requirement for the aggregate portfolio.

Panoramica dell'implementazione delle norme ESMA sui CFD presso IBKR - Solo per gli investitori al dettaglio

Overview: 


I CFD sono strumenti complessi e implicano un alto rischio di perdita rapida di denaro per via della leva finanziaria.

Il 63,7% dei conti detenuti dagli investitori al dettaglio perde denaro nell'ambito delle attività di trading di CFD svolte tramite IBKR.

È bene considerare se si comprende il funzionamento dei CFD e se ci si può permettere di assumersi l'alto rischio di perdita di denaro.

 

L'Autorità europea degli strumenti finanziari e dei mercati (ESMA) ha emanato nuove norme applicabili ai clienti al dettaglio impegnati nel trading di CFD, in vigore a partire dal 1 agosto 2018. I clienti professionali non sono soggetti a tali norme.

Queste norme consistono in: 1) dei limiti della leva finanziaria; 2) una norma sulla liquidazione del margine a seconda dello specifico conto; e 3) una tutela del saldo negativo a seconda dello specifico conto; 4) una restrizione sugli incentivi offerti per la negoziazione di CFD; e 5) un'avvertenza sui rischi standard.

La maggior parte dei clienti (eccetto le persone giuridiche regolamentate), è inizialmente classificata quale "Clienti al dettaglio". In alcune circostanze IBKR potrà acconsentire a riclassificare un "Cliente al dettaglio" come "Cliente professionale" e viceversa. Per maggiori informazioni, consulta l'articolo sulla Classificazione della clientela ai sensi della normativa MiFID.

Le seguenti sezioni illustrano i dettagli dell'implementazione dell'ordinanza dell'ESMA da parte di IBKR.

1 Limiti della leva

1.1 Margini ESMA
L'ESMA ha fissato i limiti della leva a diversi livelli a seconda del sottostante:

  • Il 3.33% per le principali coppie valutarie; per principali coppie valutarie si intende una combinazione di qualunque tra USD; CAD; EUR; GBP; CHF; JPY
  • Il 5% per le coppie valutarie non principali e gli indici principali;
    • Per coppie valutarie non principali si intende una combinazione qualunque che comprenda una valuta non indicata sopra, per esempio USD.CNH
    • I principali indici sono i seguenti: IBUS500; IBUS30; IBUST100; IBGB100; IBDE40; IBEU50; IBFR40; IBJP225; IBAU200
  • Il 10% per gli indici non principali; IBES35; IBCH20; IBNL25; IBHK50
  • Il 20% per i singoli titoli

 1.2 Margini applicati - Requisiti standard

Oltre ai margini previsti dall'ESMA, IBKR (UK) stabilisce i propri requisiti di margine (margini IB) basati sulla volatilità storica del sottostante e altri fattori. Applicheremo i margini IB se superiori a quelli previsti dall'ESMA.

I dettagli dei margini IB ed ESMA applicabili sono disponibili qui.

1.2.1 Margini applicati - Margini basati sulla concentrazione

Qualora il suo portafoglio sia costituito esclusivamente da un numero ridotto di posizioni su CFD, oppure qualora le due posizioni di dimensioni maggiori abbiano un peso predominante, le verrà addebitata una tariffa di concentrazione. Sottoporremo il tuo portafoglio a uno stress test simulando una variazione avversa del 30% sulle due posizioni di dimensioni maggiori e una del 5% sulle posizioni rimanenti. La perdita totale risultante, se di importo maggiore di quello previsto dai requisiti standard, sarà applicata come margine di mantenimento.

1.3 Fondi disponibili per il margine iniziale

È possibile utilizzare solamente liquidità per pubblicare il margine per l'apertura di posizioni su CFD. I profitti su CFD realizzati sono compresi nella liquidità e disponibili immediatamente; la liquidità non deve essere prima regolata. Tuttavia, i profitti non realizzati non possono essere impiegati per soddisfare i requisiti di margine iniziali.

1.4 Finanziamento automatico dei requisiti di margine iniziali (segmenti F)

IBKR (UK) provvede al trasferimento automatico dei fondi dal conto principale al segmento F del conto per finanziare i requisiti di margine iniziali dei CFD.

Si noti, tuttavia, che non viene effettuato alcun trasferimento per soddisfare i requisiti di margine di mantenimento dei CFD. Di conseguenza, se la liquidità necessaria a soddisfare i requisiti (come di seguito descritto) diventa insufficiente a soddisfare i requisiti di margine, si verificherà una liquidazione anche se si dispone di ampi fondi nel conto principale. Se si desidera evitare la liquidazione, è necessario trasferire fondi aggiuntivi nel segmento F tramite Gestione conto.

2 Norma di liquidazione del margine

2.1 Calcolo del margine di mantenimento e liquidazioni

L'ESMA richiede a IBKR di liquidare le posizioni su CFD quando il capitale proprio necessario scende al di sotto del 50% del margine iniziale registrato per l'apertura delle posizioni. IBKR potrà decidere di liquidare in anticipo delle posizioni se decideremo di assumere una valutazione del rischio più conservatrice. Il capitale proprio necessario a soddisfare i requisiti per questo scopo comprende la liquidità nel segmento F (esclusa la liquidità in qualunque altro segmento del conto) e il P&L su CFD non realizzato (positivo e negativo).

La base del calcolo è il margine iniziale registrato al momento dell'apertura della posizione. In altre parole, e a differenza dei calcoli del margine applicabili alle posizioni su strumenti diversi dai CFD, l'ammontare del margine iniziale non cambia al variare della posizione aperta.

2.1.1 Esempio

Si dispone di 2000 EUR in liquidità nel proprio conto CFD. Si desidera acquistare 100 CFD di XYZ al prezzo limite di 100 EUR. Si ottiene, innanzitutto, l'esecuzione di 50 CFD e poi dei restanti 50. La liquidità disponibile si riduce durante l'esecuzione delle transazioni:

  Liquidità Capitale proprio* Posizione Prezzi Valore P&L non realizzato MI MM Liquidità disponibile Violazione del MM
Pre-transazione 2000 2000             2000  
Post-transazione 1 2000 2000 50 100 5000 0 1000 500 1000 No
Post-transazione 2 2000 2000 100 100 10000 0 2000 1000 0 No

*Capitale proprio equivalente alla liquidità più il P&L non realizzato

Il prezzo aumenta fino a 110. Il capitale proprio è ora pari a 3000, ma non è possibile aprire posizioni aggiuntive, perché la liquidità a propria disposizione è pari a 0, e, secondo le norme dell'ESMA, il MI (margine iniziale) e il MM (margine di mantenimento) restano immutati:

  Liquidità Liquidità Posizione Prezzi Valore P&L non realizzato MI MM Liquidità disponibile Violazione del MM
Variazione 2000 3000 100 110 11000 1000 2000 1000 0 No

 Il prezzo, quindi, scende fino a 95. Il capitale proprio si riduce a 1500, ma non vi è violazione del margine dato che è comunque maggiore del requisito di 1000:

  Liquidità Liquidità Posizione Prezzi Valore P&L non realizzato MI MM Liquidità disponibile Violazione del MM
Variazione 2000 1500 100 95 9500 (500) 2000 1000 0 No

Il prezzo scende ulteriormente fino ad arrivare a 85, causando una violazione del margine e innescando una liquidazione:

  Liquidità Liquidità Posizione Prezzi Valore P&L non realizzato MI MM Liquidità disponibile Violazione del MM
Variazione 2000 500 100 85 8500 (1500) 2000 1000 0

 

3 Protezione del capitale proprio negativo

L'ordinanza dell'ESMA limita la propria responsabilità dei CFD ai fondi dedicati al trading di CFD. Gli altri strumenti finanziari (es., azioni o future) non possono essere liquidati per soddisfare il disavanzo di margine dei CFD.*

Quindi, gli attivi nei segmenti titoli e commodity del proprio conto principale, e gli attivi diversi dai CFD mantenuti nel segmento F, non fanno parte del proprio capitale a rischio per il trading di CFD. Tuttavia, tutta la liquidità nel segmento F può essere utilizzata per coprire le perdite derivanti dal trading di CFD.

Dato che la protezione del capitale proprio negativo rappresenta un rischio aggiuntivo per IBKR, addebiteremo agli investitori al dettaglio uno spread finanziario aggiuntivo del 1% per le posizioni su CFD mantenute alla giornata. Per informazioni dettagliate sui tassi di finanziamento dei CFD, cliccare qui.

*Sebbene non possiamo liquidare le posizioni su strumenti diversi dai CFD per coprire il disavanzo dei CFD, possiamo liquidare le posizioni su CFD per coprire il disavanzo non CFD.

4 Incentivi offerti dal trading di CFD

L'ordinanza dell'ESMA impone un divieto sui benefici monetari e su quelli di altro tipo relativi al trading di CFD. IBKR non offre alcun bonus o altro incentivo per il trading di CFD.

 

Overview of ESMA CFD Rules Implementation at IBKR (UK) - Retail Investors Only

Overview: 


CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.

66.3% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with IBKR.

You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

 

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) enacted new rules applicable to retail clients trading CFDs, effective 1st August 2018. Professional clients are unaffected.

The rules consist of: 1) leverage limits; 2) a margin close out rule on a per account basis; 3) negative balance protection on a per account basis; 4) a restriction on the incentives offered to trade CFDs; and 5) a standardized risk warning.

Most clients (excepting regulated entities) are initially categorised as Retail Clients. IBKR may in certain circumstances agree to reclassify a Retail Client as a Professional Client, or a Professional Client as a Retail Client. Please see MiFID Categorisation for further detail.

The following sections detail how IBKR (UK) has implemented the ESMA Decision.

1 Leverage Limits

1.1 ESMA Margins
Leverage limits were set by ESMA at different levels depending on the underlying:

  • 3.33% for major currency pairs; Major currency pairs are any combination of USD; CAD; EUR; GBP; CHF; JPY
  • 5% for non-major currency pairs and major indices;
    • Non-major currency pairs are any combination that includes a currency not listed above, e.g. USD.CNH
    • Major indices are IBUS500; IBUS30; IBUST100; IBGB100; IBDE40; IBEU50; IBFR40; IBJP225; IBAU200
  • 10% for non-major equity indices; IBES35; IBCH20; IBNL25; IBHK50
  • 20% for individual equities

 1.2 Applied Margins - Standard Requirement

In addition to the ESMA Margins, IBKR (UK) establishes its own margin requirements (IB Margins) based on the historical volatility of the underlying, and other factors. We will apply the IB Margins if they are higher than those prescribed by ESMA.

Details of applicable IB and ESMA margins can be found here.

1.2.1 Applied Margins - Concentration Minimum

A concentration charge is applied if your portfolio consists of a small number of CFD positions, or if the three largest positions have a dominant weight. We stress the portfolio by applying a 30% adverse move on the three largest positions and a 5% adverse move on the remaining positions. The total loss is applied as the maintenance margin requirement if it is greater than the standard requirement.

1.3 Funds Available for Initial Margin

You can only use cash to post initial margin to open a CFD position. Realized CFD profits are included in cash and are available immediately; the cash does not have to settle first. Unrealized profits however cannot be used to meet initial margin requirements.

1.4 Automatic Funding of Initial Margin Requirements (F-segments)

IBKR (UK) automatically transfers funds from your main account to the F-segment of your account to fund initial margin requirements for CFDs.

Note however that no transfers are made to satisfy CFD maintenance margin requirements. Therefore if qualifying equity (defined below) becomes insufficient to meet margin requirements, a liquidation will occur even if you have ample funds in your main account. If you wish to avoid a liquidation you must transfer additional funds to the F-segment in Account Management.

2 Margin Close Out Rule

2.1 Maintenance Margin Calculations & Liquidations

ESMA requires IBKR to liquidate CFD positions latest when qualifying equity falls below 50% of the initial margin posted to open the positions. IBKR may close out positions sooner if our risk view is more conservative. Qualifying equity for this purpose includes cash in the F-segment (excluding cash in any other account segment) and unrealized CFD P&L (positive and negative).

The basis for the calculation is the initial margin posted at the time of opening a CFD position. In other words, and unlike margin calculations applicable to non-CFD positions, the initial margin amount does not change when the value of the open position changes.

2.1.1 Example

You have EUR 2000 cash in your CFD account. You want to buy 100 CFDs of XYZ at a limit price of EUR 100. You are first filled 50 CFDs and then the remaining 50. Your available cash reduces as your trades are filled:

  Cash Equity* Position Price Value Unrealized P&L IM MM Available Cash MM Violation
Pre Trade 2000 2000             2000  
Post Trade 1 2000 2000 50 100 5000 0 1000 500 1000 No
Post Trade 2 2000 2000 100 100 10000 0 2000 1000 0 No

*Equity equals Cash plus Unrealized P&L

The price increases to 110. Your equity is now 3000, but you cannot open additional positions because your available cash is still 0, and under the ESMA rules IM and MM remain unchanged:

  Cash Equity Position Price Value Unrealized P&L IM MM Available Cash MM Violation
Change 2000 3000 100 110 11000 1000 2000 1000 0 No

 The price then drops to 95. Your equity declines to 1500 but there is no margin violation since it is still greater than the 1000 requirement:

  Cash Equity Position Price Value Unrealized P&L IM MM Available Cash MM Violation
Change 2000 1500 100 95 9500 (500) 2000 1000 0 No

The price falls further to 85, causing a margin violation and triggering a liquidation:

  Cash Equity Position Price Value Unrealized P&L IM MM Available Cash MM Violation
Change 2000 500 100 85 8500 (1500) 2000 1000 0 Yes

 

3 Negative Equity Protection

The ESMA Decision limits your CFD-related liability to the funds dedicated to CFD-trading. Other financial instruments (e.g. shares or futures) cannot be liquidated to satisfy a CFD margin-deficit.*

Therefore assets in the security and commodity segments of your main account, and non-CFD assets held in the F-segment, are not part of your capital at risk for CFD trading. However, all cash in the F-segment can be used to cover losses arising from CFD trading.

As Negative Equity Protection represents additional risk to IBKR, we will charge retail investors an additional financing spread of 1% for CFD positions held overnight. You can find detailed CFD financing rates here.

*Although we cannot liquidate non-CFD positions to cover a CFD deficit, we can liquidate CFD positions to cover a non-CFD deficit.

4 Incentives Offered to trade CFDs

The ESMA Decision imposes a ban on monetary and certain types of non-monetary benefits related to CFD trading. IBKR does not offer any bonus or other incentives to trade CFDs.

 

Risk Navigator: Alternative Margin Calculator

Overview: 

IB routinely reviews margin levels and will implement changes which serve to increase requirements above statutory minimums as market conditions warrant.  To assist clients with understanding the effects of such changes on their portfolio, a feature referred to as the "Alternative Margin Calculator" is provided within the Risk Navigator application. Outlined below are the steps for creating a “what-if” portfolio for the purpose of determining the impact of such margin changes.

Step 1: Open a new “What-if” portfolio

From the Classic TWS trading platform, select the Analytical Tools, Risk Navigator, and then Open New What-If menu options (Exhibit1).

Exhibit 1
 

From the Mosaic TWS trading platform, select New Window, Risk Navigator, and then Open New What-If menu options.

Step 2: Define starting portfolio

A pop-up window will appear (Exhibit 2) from which you will be prompted to define whether you would like to create a hypothetical portfolio starting from your current portfolio or a newly created portfolio. Clicking on the "yes" button will serve to download existing positions to the new “What-If” portfolio.

Exhibit 2
 

Clicking on the "No" button will open up the “What – If” Portfolio with no positions.


Risk Dashboard

The Risk Dashboard is pinned along the top of the product tab-sets, and is and is available for what-if as well as active portfolios. The values are calculated on demand for what-if portfolios. The dashboard provides at-a-glance account information including:

1) Net Liquidation Value: The total Net Liquidation Value for the account
2) P&L: The total daily P&L for the entire portfolio
3) Maintenance Margin: Total current maintenance margin
4) Initial Margin: Total initial margin requirements
5) VAR: Shows the Value at risk for the entire portfolio
6) Expected Shortfall (ES): Expected Shortfall (average value at risk) is expected return of the portfolio in the worst case
 

 

Alternative Margin Calculator

The Alternative Margin Calculator, accessed from the Setting menu and clicking on the Margin Mode (Exhibit 3), shows how the margin change will affect the overall margin requirement, once fully implemented.

Exhibit 3
 

 

Step 3: Selecting Margin Mode Settings

A pop-up window will appear (Exhibit 4) entitled Margin Mode Setting. You can use the drop-down menu in that window to change the margin calculations from Default (being the current policy) to the new title of the new Margin Setting (being the new margin policy). Once you have made a selection click on the OK button in that window.

Exhibit 4
 

Once the new margin mode setting is specified, the Risk Navigator Dashboard will automatically update to reflect your choice. You can toggle back and forth between the Margin Mode settings. Note that the current Margin Mode will be shown in the lower left hand corner of the Risk Navigator window (Exhibit 5).

Exhibit 5
 

 

Step 4: Add Positions

To add a position to the "What - If" portfolio, click on the green row titled "New" and then enter the underlying symbol (Exhibit 6), define the product type (Exhibit 7) and enter position quantity (Exhibit 8)

Exhibit 6
 

 

Exhibit 7

 

Exhibit 8

 

You can modify the positions to see how that changes the margin. After you altered your positions you will need to click on the recalculate icon () to the right of the margin numbers in order to have them update. Whenever that icon is present the margin numbers are not up-to-date with the content of the What-If Portfolio.

 

Margin Considerations for IB LLC Commodities Accounts

Introduction
As a global broker offering futures trading in 19 countries, IB is subject to various regulations, some of which retain the concept of margin as a single, end of day computation as opposed to the continuous, real-time computations IB performs. To satisfy commodity regulatory requirements and manage economic exposure in a pragmatic fashion, two margin computations are performed at the market close, both which must be met to remain fully margin compliant. An overview of these computations is outlined below.

Overview
All orders are subject to an initial margin check prior to execution and continuous maintenance margin checks thereafter. As certain products may be offered intraday margin at rates less than the exchange minimum and to ensure end of day margin compliance overall, IB will generally liquidate positions prior to the close rather than issue a margin call. If, however, an account remains non-compliant at the close, our practice is to issue a margin call, restrict the account to margin reducing transactions and liquidate positions by the close of the 3rd business day if the initial requirement has not then been satisfied.

In determining whether a margin call is required, IB performs both a real-time and regulatory computation, which in certain circumstances, can generate different results:

Real-Time: under this method, initial margin is computed using positions and prices collected at a common point in time, regardless of a product’s listing exchange and official closing time; an approach we believe appropriate given the near continuous trading offered by most exchanges.

Regulatory: under this method, initial margin is computed using positions and prices collected at the official close of regular trading hours for each individual exchange. So, for example, a client trading futures listed on each of the Hong Kong, EUREX and CME exchanges would have a requirement calculated based upon information collected at the close of each respective exchange.
 

Impact
Clients trading futures listed within a single country and session are not expected to be impacted. Clients trading both the daytime and after hours sessions of a given exchange or on exchanges located in different countries where the closing times don’t align are more likely to be impacted. For example, a client opening a futures contract during the Hong Kong daytime session and closing it during U.S. hours, would have only the opening position considered for purposes of determining the margin requirement. This implies a different margin requirement and a possible margin call under the revised computation that may not have existed under the current.  An example of this is provided in the chart below.
 

Example

This example attempts to demonstrate how a client trading futures in both the Asia and U.S. timezones would be impacted were that client to trade in an extended hours trading session (i.e., outside of the regular trading hours after which the day's official close had been determined).  Here, the client opens a position during the Hong Kong regular hours trading session, closes it during the extended hours session, thereby freeing up equity to open a position in the U.S. regular hours session. For purposes of illustration, a $1,000 trading loss is assumed. This example illustrates that the regulatory end of day computation may not recognize margin reducing trades conducted after the official close, thereby generating an initial margin call.

Day Time (ET) Event

Start Position

End Position IB Margin Regulatory Margin
Equity With Loan Maintenance Initial Overnight Margin Call
1 22:00 Buy 1 HHI.HK None Long 1 HHI.HK $10,000 $3,594 $4,493 N/A N/A
2 04:30 Official HK Close Long 1 HHI.HK Long 1 HHI.HK $10,000 $7,942 $9,927 $4,493 N/A
2 08:00 Sell 1 HHI.HK Long 1 HHI.HK None $9,000 $0 $0 $0 N/A
2 10:00 Buy 1 ES None Long 1 ES $9,000 $2,942 $3,677 N/A N/A
2 17:00 Official U.S. Close Long 1 ES Long 1 ES $9,000 $5,884 $7,355 $9,993 Yes
3 17:00 Official U.S. Close Long 1 ES Long 1 ES $9,000 $5,884 $7,355 $5,500 No

 

Anteprima ordine/Verifica margine

Overview: 

La funzione Anteprima ordine/Verifica margine offre la possibilità di verificare il costo e l'impatto sulle commissioni e sul margine previsti per uno specifico ordine prima della sua trasmissione. Sebbene questa funzione sia disponibile sia in TWS sia in WebTrader, la versione per TWS è quella che offre più dettagli.

Trader Workstation (TWS)

La funzione Verifica margine di TWS offre la possibilità di isolare l'impatto sul margine dell'ordine proposto dalle posizioni in essere del dato utente e, inoltre, mostra il nuovo requisito di margine partendo dal presupposto che l'ordine venga eseguito. I principali saldi del margine, compresi i requisiti del margine iniziale e di mantenimento, sono registrati così come il capitale con valore di prestito. Per usare questa funzione, è necessario posizionare il cursore sulla linea dell'ordine, cliccare col tasto destro del mouse e selezionare Verifica margine dal menu a discesa.

Esempio: acquisto di 1 ES June 2012 Future a 1387.25

 

La prima sezione dell'Anteprima dell'ordine mostra il prezzo bid, ask e l'ultimo prezzo del titolo.

 

La seconda sezione illustra i dettagli fondamentali dell'ordine

 

La sezione Importo indica il valore dell'ordine e la stima delle commissioni applicabili.

 

La sezione Impatto sul margine mostra una descrizione dettagliata di quanto segue;

Correnti = i valori correnti del conto, escluso l'ordine attualmente trasmesso.

Modifica = l'effetto della trasmissione dell'ordine ignorando le eventuali posizioni nel conto.

Post-negoziazione = i valori previsti del conto quando l'ordine attualmente trasmesso è stato eseguito e aggiunto al portafoglio del conto.

  

WebTrader

L'anteprima d'ordine di WebTrader mostra solamente l'equivalente dei valori di post-negoziazione di TWS.

 

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