Margin
Back to MarginAn account with a large percentage of investments in a single asset class may be considered concentrated. For example, while a diversified account may contain a strategic mix of stocks, bonds and cash investments, a concentrated account might contain a significant investment in one particular stock or bond.
Concentrated accounts carry a high level of risk when borrowing on margin. For this reason, Scottrade may raise the margin equity requirement on accounts that are considered to be concentrated. Scottrade defines a concentrated margin account as one that contains one or two equity positions that make up the majority of the account's market value.
Just as Scottrade's regular margin requirements are on a graduated scale depending on the price of the stock, margin increases for concentrated accounts also depend upon the securities and amount of leverage in the account. A concentrated account's margin requirements may be increased by an additional 5% to 70%, but will not exceed 100% of the value of the securities.
To avoid incurring increased margin requirements in your account, you may consider:
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Diversifying the holdings in your account
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Reducing the amount you are borrowing on margin
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Hedging your highly concentrated positions. One hedging strategy that some investors use in this situation is purchasing protective puts. However, options trading carries significant risks and is not appropriate for all investors.
Margin trading involves interest charges and risks, including the potential to lose more than deposited or the need to deposit additional collateral in a falling market. Scottrade's margin agreement is available on our Web site and at our branch offices and contains the Margin Disclosure Statement and information on our lending policies, interest charges, and the risks associated with margin accounts.
Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Detailed information on our policies and the risks associated with options can be found in the Scottrade Options Application and Agreement, Brokerage Account Agreement, and by downloading the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options and Supplements (PDF) from The Options Clearing Corporation, or by requesting a copy from your local branch office. Market volatility, volume, and system availability may impact account access and trade execution. Supporting documentation for any claims will be supplied upon request.| No Events Scheduled. |
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