Margin

How can individuals get risk based margins like market makers and not have to own a seat on the exchange floor? It's with portfolio margin.

The crude oil market is dynamic and global, and it touches all of us as consumers—and as investors, too. Qualified account owners have a new way to play the oil market: weekly options on futures.

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.

A shift among retail brokers to a zero-commission structure has led some investors to ask if it’s time to make a change. If you’re thinking about switching to TD Ameritrade, here are a few things you should know.

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.

Actively trading in an IRA may be a way for some people to attempt to manage risk and potentially increase their income stream in retirement—while enjoying certain tax-deferred benefits.

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.

Can you trade currencies like stocks? There are some similarities between forex and equities. Here's what small investors should know before jumping into currency trading.

Explore real examples of initial margin & maintenance margin calls. Dive into the mechanics of margin multipliers in futures contract margin.

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.

Margin trading can seem complex but once you learn the basics of buying on margin and you understand the benefits and risks it becomes a powerful, if somewhat dangerous tool.

There is a way to turn naked options into risk-defined positions to lower the margin requirements and free up capital at the same time. The strategy: a vertical spread.

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.