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Forex trading is a global market where currencies are bought and sold. It’s a highly liquid and dynamic market that attracts traders from around the world. To participate in forex, traders often use leverage to amplify their potential profits. However, this leverage can also lead to significant losses, triggering what is known as a margin call.
Understanding this concept is crucial for anyone active in forex trading. In this article, Brokerland delve into the concept of a margin call in forex, building on our previous detailed discussions of margin and its types.
Margin Call Concept
Before discussing a margin call, let’s briefly review the concept of margin, which we extensively covered in previous articles, along with its types. Margin allows traders to control larger positions than they could with their own capital, increasing both potential profits and potential losses. When a trader opens a trade, a portion of their balance is set aside as margin, serving as collateral for the forex broker to ensure the trader can cover potential losses.
Leverage, as explained in our previous articles, is a fundamental concept in forex trading closely related to margin. It is expressed as a ratio, indicating the degree to which a trader can amplify the size of their position relative to their initial capital.
Common leverage ratios include 50:1, 100:1, and even 500:1, depending on the broker and region. Different brokers and account types offer varying percentages of leverage; for example, the leverage available at Alpari may differ from that at another forex broker like HYCM.
Leverage and margin go hand in hand. Higher leverage ratios require less margin to control a specific position size. For instance, with 100:1 leverage, a trader can control a $100,000 position with only $1,000 in margin. While this can increase potential profits, it also raises the potential for significant losses.
Forex brokers typically set specific margin levels, often expressed as percentages, at which a margin call and stop outs occur. These levels ensure that traders maintain a minimum margin level in their accounts to cover potential losses.
Difference Between Margin Call and Stop Out
A margin call occurs when the account balance of a trader falls below the required margin level to hold a position. At this point, the broker typically executes a margin call to cover the budget deficit, automatically closing all of the trader’s positions and trades. Failure to adhere to the declared percentage for a margin-call may result in the liquidation of trades.
On the other hand, a stop-out is a stop-loss level, a threshold slightly below the margin call level. If the account balance drops below this stop-out level, the broker may automatically close one or more positions to prevent further losses.
While both margin calls and stop-outs involve closing positions to manage risk, a margin-call is triggered when the account balance falls below the required margin level, while a stop-out occurs at a slightly higher level as a preventive measure to limit losses.
When Does a Margin Call Occur?
A margin call occurs when the equity (account balance plus or minus any profits or losses from open positions) falls below the required margin level for open positions. In other words, it happens when the account can no longer cover potential losses from open trades.
Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how it happens:
- Opening a Trade: A trader opens a position in the forex market, and an initial margin requirement is set to cover potential losses.
- Market Movements: If the market moves against the trader’s position, unrealized losses start to accumulate. These losses are deducted from the account balance.
- Reduction in Margin Level: As unrealized losses reduce the account balance, the margin level decreases. The margin level is calculated as (Equity / Used Margin) x 100%. Equity is the account balance plus or minus any unrealized profits or losses, and Used Margin is the amount of margin used in open positions.
- Reaching the Margin Call Level: When the margin level approaches a certain threshold set by the broker, usually expressed as a percentage (e.g., 100% or 50%), a margin call is triggered.
- Broker Notification: The broker sends a margin-call notification to the trader, alerting them that their account is at risk of excessive leverage.
- Trader’s Response: The trader has a limited time, often a few hours, to deposit additional funds into their account to meet the margin requirements. Failure to do so may result in the liquidation of positions.
It’s crucial for traders to be aware of their account’s margin levels and respond promptly to margin calls to avoid potential liquidation of their positions.
Consequences of Margin Call
When a margin call is triggered, several consequences may unfold:
Position Liquidation: If the trader fails to respond to the margin call by adding more funds to their account, the broker may start automatically closing the trader’s open positions, starting with the one incurring the most significant losses.
Realization of Losses: Closing positions during a margin call often results in realized losses. These losses are deducted from the trader’s account balance, further reducing equity.
Zeroing Out the Account: If the incurred losses during a margin-call are substantial, it can lead to a significant depletion of the trader’s account balance, potentially wiping out the entire account.
Protection Against Negative Balances: Some brokers offer protection against negative balances, meaning they do not allow the account balance to go negative, even if losses exceed the account balance. However, not all brokers provide this feature. For example, brokers like USGFX, RoboForex and Windsor offer robust protection against negative balances.
The Importance of Risk Management
Having proper risk management is crucial in preventing margin calls and account wipeouts.
Setting Stop-Loss Orders
One of the most effective ways to manage risk and prevent margin calls is to use stop-loss orders. This type of forex orders, prevalent in forex trading, provides instructions to automatically close a position when the market reaches a specified price level.
Traders setting stop-loss orders in their trades can limit potential losses and reduce the likelihood of margin calls. For a better understanding of this concept, it is recommended to read about stop hunting.
Appropriate Position Sizing
Risk management also involves determining the appropriate risk/reward ratio and position size for each trade based on the trader’s account size and risk tolerance. Excessive leverage and trading overly large positions can quickly lead to margin calls and substantial losses. Using position sizing techniques like the 1% rule, where a trader does not risk more than 1% of their account balance on a single trade, can help reduce risk.
Diversification
Diversifying a trading portfolio across multiple currency pairs can help spread risk. This approach mitigates the impact of a losing trade on the overall account balance. Diversification can be an effective strategy to prevent margin-calls, provided that proper risk management is maintained for each trade.
Trading Plans
Having a well-defined trading plan that includes risk management rules is essential for forex traders. A trading plan outlines entry and exit points, stop-loss levels, and profit targets. Following a trading plan helps traders avoid impulsive decisions that could lead to margin calls.
What to Do When Faced With a Margin Call?
If you receive a margin call, consider the following steps:
- Assess the Situation: Evaluate your open positions and determine the extent of losses and gains contributing to the margin-call.
- Deposit Additional Funds: If you believe your trades have the potential for recovery, you can deposit additional funds into your account to meet the margin requirements.
- Close Losing Positions: If you lack confidence in the recovery of losing positions, manually close them.
- Reevaluate Your Strategy: Reflect on your trading strategy and risk management methods to identify areas for improvement.
- Strategies to Prevent Margin Calls: Consider implementing strategies to minimize the risk of margin-calls, as mentioned in the subsequent section.
Strategies to Prevent Margin-Calls
Here are some recommendations to minimize the risk of margin calls:
- Use Lower Leverage: To reduce the required margin for your trades, use lower leverage ratios. This can make your account less susceptible to margin calls.
- Monitor Trades Closely: Carefully observe your open positions and market conditions. Be ready to act quickly if you notice unfavorable and drastic price movements.
- Set Realistic Stop-Loss Levels: When setting stop-loss orders, make sure they are at levels that align with your risk analysis and tolerance.
- Seek Professional Guidance: If you consistently face margin calls, consider seeking guidance from a professional Forex coach or advisor. They can assist you in refining your trading strategy and developing better risk management techniques. Another option is to use social trading platforms, where you can be in contact with other traders and learn from experienced professionals.
Real-Life Examples of Significant Margin Calls
The events mentioned worldwide emphasize the importance of risk management, excessive leverage risks, and the need for traders to have a complete understanding of the Forex market.
Swiss Franc Shock (2015): The Swiss National Bank’s decision to remove the Swiss Franc’s peg to the Euro led to significant fluctuations in currency markets. Many traders, using high leverage, faced substantial losses, and some brokers even declared bankruptcy.
Barings Bank Collapse (1995): Nick Leeson, a trader at Barings Bank, incurred massive losses through high-leverage trades in the Singapore futures market, leading to the bank’s collapse.
Conclusion
In the Forex trading world, margin calls play a crucial role that can significantly impact a trader’s success or failure. While margin and leverage can amplify profits, they also increase the risk of substantial losses. Therefore, it’s crucial for traders to approach the Forex market with a full understanding of margin, leverage, and effective risk management strategies.
By following the principles outlined in this comprehensive guide, traders can reduce the likelihood of margin calls and navigate the Forex market with greater confidence. Remember that successful Forex trading requires not only a well-thought-out strategy but also consistent risk management and continuous learning.
