What is Margin in Forex Trading
Margin in forex trading is essentially a good-faith deposit that your broker requires to cover potential losses. It is expressed as a percentage of the total trade size. For instance, if a broker requires a 2% margin, you need $200 to open a $10,000 position. The formula is simple: Margin = (Trade Size / Leverage). In Mongolia, retail traders often use leverage ratios like 1:30, 1:50, or 1:100, depending on the broker and regulatory limits. With a 1:50 leverage, a $10,000 trade requires only $200 margin. Your used margin is the total margin tied up in open positions, while free margin is the equity available to open new trades. If your account equity falls below the required margin, you receive a margin call—a warning to deposit more funds or close positions. For Mongolia traders, this is especially important because local payment methods like Bank Transfer may take time to process, potentially causing delays. Using instant methods like Skrill or USDT can help you respond quickly to margin calls. Always monitor your margin level, calculated as (Equity / Used Margin) x 100%. A margin level below 100% triggers a margin call, and below 50% may lead to automatic liquidation. For example, if you have $1,000 equity and $800 used margin, your margin level is 125%. If losses reduce equity to $800, the margin level drops to 100%, and you must act. Understanding these mechanics helps Mongolia traders manage risk and avoid losing their entire account.