Margin

Understand the basic differences between portfolio margin and regulation T margin as well as the brief history behind portfolio margin.

Learn about options exercise and options assignment before taking a position, not afterward. This guide can help you navigate the dynamics of options expiration.

Crude oil futures are one of the most actively traded in the world. Understand the different ways an investor might participate in the crude oil market.

Trading on margin can magnify your returns, but it can also increase your losses. Learn the basics, benefits, and risks of margin trading.

Trading in an IRA may be a way for some people to try to manage risk and potentially increase their income stream in retirement while having some tax-deferred benefits.

If you’re thinking of legging in to options spread strategies, know the pros and cons before diving in.

CME Group is now listing Micro WTI Crude Oil futures. Approved account owners can now trade them on the thinkorswim® platform. Here’s what you need to know.

CME Group is now listing Micro Bitcoin futures. Approved account owners can now trade them on the thinkorswim® platform. Here’s what you need to know.

The futures market can open new worlds for option traders, but it can also carry unique risks. So before you dive in, know the nuts and bolts of the futures markets.

Financial Literacy Month is a good time to think about your financial wellness. Have you set goals, and are you on track to get there?

Bitcoin’s rally, along with growth in bitcoin futures and other crypto-linked investment vehicles, reflects expanding acceptance of digital currencies.

Have a single-leg option? Consider using a vertical spread to turn it into a defined-risk spread to lower the margin requirements and free up capital at the same time.

With Micro E-mini options on futures, option traders can participate in the futures market with less capital and with streamlined risk management.

The global foreign exchange (FX) market is deep, liquid, and traded virtually around the clock. If you’re an option trader in search of a new asset class to trade, consider options on currency futures.

The housing market has historically been a bellwether of the stock market and of the economy in general. Learn about housing starts, building permits, and other indicators that can help investors assess the state of the housing market.

When trading in a cash account, understand the three different types of cash account violations you could encounter: free ride violation, good faith violation, and liquidation violation.

When used prudently, and with a full understanding of the risks, margin can be used to help diversify holdings and attempt to amplify return on assets. But it’s not for everybody. Margin also creates the potential for greater risk of loss from increased leverage.

Thinking of futures as just another asset class, let's start with the basics: how to use capital efficiently, speculate, and hedge with futures.

Treasury bonds are boring, right? Wrong. For traders, they represent a market that can be bigger than stocks.

Interested in learning about futures contracts? Here's a primer on multipliers, tick size, and other futures contracts specifications.

At first glance, futures trading may seem complex. Let's explore what goes into trading futures contracts.

Options on futures are quite similar to their equity option cousins, but a few differences do exist.

Options aren’t always for speculation. They can be used for portfolio protection.