Margin is an amount required to secure a position you would like to open. It allows you to properly manage your transaction and determine the size of the lot and leverage, so as not to exceed the balance of your trading account. This is crucial to avoid margin calls or stop outs.
Margin requirements are calculated differently depending on trading platform and asset class. Respective methodologies are described below.
For the MT4 platform the following apply:
Forex instruments calculate margin requirements using the Forex formula, as follows: Lot x Contract Size / Leverage x Percentage / 100.
CFDs on Metals, CFDs on Indices and CFDs on Energies calculate margin requirements using the CFD-Leverage formula, as follows: Lot x Contract Size x Market Price / Leverage x Percentage / 100.
CFDs on Shares and CFDs on Cryptocurrencies calculate margin requirements using the CFD formula, as follows: Lot x Contract Size x Market Price x Percentage / 100.
For the MT5 platform the following apply:
Forex instruments calculate margin requirements using the Forex formula, as follows: Lot x Contract Size / Leverage x Percentage.
CFDs Indices (Groups 4 and 5) and CFDs on Energies (Group 3) calculate margin requirements using the CFD-Leverage formula, as follows: Lot x Contract Size x Market Price / Leverage x Percentage.
CFDs on Metals, CFDs on Shares, CFDs on ETFs, CFDs on Cryptocurrencies, CFDs on Commodities, CFDs on Indices (except listed above) and CFDs on Energies (except listed above) calculate margin requirements using the CFD formula, as follows: Lot x Contract Size x Market Price x Percentage.
Lot - is the MetaTrader volume of your position
Contract Size - is the actual number of units of an asset in your position
Leverage - is the leverage level applicable to your trading account (subject to ESMA limitations for retail clients)
Percentage - is the margin percentage applicable to an asset class and/or instrument
Market Price - is the price at which your position is placed