Margin & Leverage

Margin refers to the amount of money required to open and maintain a futures position. This is set by the exchange and the broker or FCM, and is specific to each futures product based on characteristics like the volatility and risk.

Initial Margin vs Maintenance Margin: The Initial Margin Requirement is the amount of money required to open a new futures position. Once the position is opened, the trader must post at least the Maintenance Margin Requirement in order to keep the position open.

Because the margin requirement is typically much less than the full value that underlies the future, futures trading is Leveraged, meaning smaller price moves can have an amplified impact on a traders profits and losses. This is a way in which futures trading is inherently risky, but can have capital efficiency benefits. In Architect, each product's margin information is available in the Product Info. The account's margin status is available in the Balances.