How Does Margin Trading Work?
After the opening of an MTF account, the broker can fund client’s trade once client places an order under MTF & pays the required margin. The funded amount is like a loaned capital that the investor will pay interest on.
Example :
An investor wishes to purchase shares worth Rs 50,000 but he doesn’t have the full amount. He can pay a part of the total amount to buy the shares, called margin.
Suppose the margin, in this case, is 25%. So, the investor pays Rs. 10,000 (25% of Rs. 40,000) to the broker as margin. The investor is required to pay interest to the broker on Total MTF position created.
Features of Margin Trading
Now that we know what is margin trading, let’s understand its key features:
Collateral Use: You can use available cash or approved securities in your portfolio as collateral to borrow funds from your broker for purchasing stocks.
MTF Account: A Margin Trading Facility (MTF) account is where margin trades are made. These accounts follow the rules set by SEBI and the stock exchange.
Authorised Brokers Only: You can only do margin trading through brokers who are registered and approved by SEBI.
Flexible Margin Limits: If stock prices go up, the margin value of your pledged securities may also go up. This means you can trade more without needing more money.
Carry Forward Option: You can carry margin trades for up to 365 days. The length of time may vary by broker.
Advantages of Margin Trading
Increased Buying Power – Allows traders to purchase more securities than with available cash.
Leverage Opportunity – Maximizes potential returns by using borrowed funds.
Portfolio Diversification – Enables investment across multiple assets with limited capital.
Quick Market Entry – Provides immediate funds to seize trading opportunities.
Higher Profit Potential – Gains can be amplified if trades move in the desired direction.
Risks Involved in Margin Trading
Profits & Losses - Margin is like a double-edged sword. It can help investors magnify profits & also magnify losses. There’s a great chance that you may end up losing more than what you invested.
Minimum Balance – The investor needs to keep a minimum balance in the MTF account at all times when an MTF position is open. In case the balance falls below the minimum level, the broker notifies the investor to meet the minimum balance. If he is unable to, then he is forced to sell some or all the shares under an MTF order for the maintenance of the minimum balance.
Liquidation – In the event of failure on the investors’ part to keep up with the margin trade terms, the broker may square off the position and liquidate the investor’s assets for recovery of the amount.
SEBI Regulations Regarding Margin Trading
The new margin rules from SEBI are meant to lower risk and make things clearer. Traders must meet stricter margin requirements up front, and there are penalties for not doing so. The Margin Pledge Mechanism is one of these safeguards.
Parameter
| Before
| Now (As per latest SEBI rules)
|
Initial margin required in cash segment
| No
| On T-day, a minimum of 20% margin is required. Additional margin (if any) must be paid by T+2 (pay-in date). Cash-collateral-backed securities now count as margin.
|
Initial margin required for selling of shares
| No
| A minimum 20% initial margin is mandatory even for selling. To avoid margin block, brokers can perform early pay-in on behalf of clients.
|
Penalty on short margin
| No
| Yes. Any shortfall in margin will attract penalties as per SEBI's margin reporting framework.
|
Pledging of shares
| Shares had to be transferred to the broker’s account or POA given for pledging
| Shares now remain in the investor's demat account. Limit on pledged shares is available only for securities pledged via Margin Pledge Mechanism (MPM).
|
Conclusion
Traders can buy more stocks and maybe get more money back by trading on margin in the stock market. But it also has more risks. In order to trade safely and responsibly, traders need to know SEBI's rules about margin trading. By following these rules, traders can protect their money and lower their risks. Always follow the rules and trade in a disciplined way. You can make money by trading on margin, but you need to know the market well and be aware of the risks.