How does leverage work?
Leverage works by using a deposit, known as margin, to provide you with increased exposure to an underlying asset.
Essentially, you’re putting down a fraction of the full value of your trade – and your provider is loaning you the rest. Although you’re only paying a small percentage of the full trade’s value upfront, your total profit or loss will be calculated on the full position size, not your margin amount.
Your total exposure compared to your margin is known as the leverage ratio.
Leveraged trading: an example
Let’s say you want to buy 1000 shares of a company at a share price of 100 cents. To open a conventional trade with a stockbroker, you’d be required to pay 1000 x 100 cents for an exposure of $1000 (not including any commission or other charges).
However, with leverage, you can pay a fraction of this cost upfront. If the margin amount was 20%, you’d pay just $200 to open a position worth $1000. Both your profits and losses would, however, be calculated on the full $1000.
If you went long on your trade and the company’s share price goes up by 40 cents, your 1000 shares are now worth 140 cents each. If you close your position, then you’d have made a $400 profit – double your initial margin amount of $200.
The reverse would be true if you went long and the share price dropped by 40 cents, you’d have made a $400 loss – double your initial amount paid. So, there’s substantial risk of profits or losses outweighing your margin amount.
