The amount will be large to enough to cover a one – day loss that can be encountered on 99% of days, depending on the volatility of the stock or Index. Initially SEBI has stipulated 5% minimum margins. Stock Exchanges can impose higher margins. Trading members can also impose higher margins on clients. The margin will depend on the risk profile of the client and
delay in funds transfer in banks.
Maintenance Margin is typically 75% of Initial Margin.
Margins to be imposed on clients will depend on
- Price Volatility
- Daily Circuits, if any
- Time needed to recover additional margins
- Traders objectives
- 1. Day Trading – Less margin
2. Calendar Trading – Less margin
If margins are not received in reasonable period, contract can be closed out.
VIOLATIONS
- Initial Margin violation
- Mark to Market value violation
- Contract position Limit violation
Initial Margin violation
Liquid Net worth of trading member = Deposits with NSE – initial margin at any point of time.
Liquid net worth of Rs 50 lakhs always to be kept with exchange. Say total deposits are 80 lakhs, till such time that initial margins are upto 30 lakhs, there is no problem. But if the exposure increases and initial margin goes to 31 lakhs, it is a violation.
Mark to Market value violation
The mark to Market value of CM, across contracts, is monitored intra-day. At no point of time should the mark to market value of all open positions of a clearing member be greater than liquid net worth 33 1/3 time mark to market value.
Contract position Limit violation
Limit on trading members open position. Higher of Rs 100 crores or 15% of open interest in the nearest month. Any crossing, even on intra-day basis shall be a violation.