Maintenance Margin Levels

Maintenance margin levels are the minimum amount of collateral that must be held in a trading account to keep a position open. If the account balance falls below this threshold due to adverse price movements, the exchange triggers a margin call or automatic liquidation.

This ensures that the position remains adequately backed and prevents the loss from exceeding the initial deposit. Maintenance margins are generally lower than initial margins but serve as a critical safety net.

They prevent the accumulation of negative balances that could threaten the clearing house. Traders must monitor these levels closely to avoid forced liquidation of their assets.

It is a fundamental control mechanism in all leveraged trading environments.

Margin Liquidation Cascades
CCI Overbought Levels
Margin Call Procedures
Account-Level Liquidation
Isolated Margin Mode
Peg Stability
Account Equity Monitoring
Cost of Maintenance