Day55. Financial term | Securities Margin Trading

Securities Margin Trading is a stock trading method that combines two financial services: financing and securities borrowing.

Financing refers to investors borrowing funds from a brokerage to purchase stocks, while securities borrowing involves investors borrowing stocks and selling them with the hope of buying them back at a lower price, thus profiting from the price difference.

Margin trading allows investors to utilize funds more flexibly during trading, potentially increasing investment returns. However, margin trading carries high risks, and caution is advised.

Let's take an example:

Jack has $100,000, and he believes that a certain stock has potential for future growth. However, he wants to use more funds to purchase more shares to increase potential returns. So, he opts for margin trading.

In margin trading, Jack can borrow from the brokerage, increasing his available capital from $100,000 to $200,000, and then use this additional capital to buy more shares.

At the same time, Jack wants to use securities borrowing to enhance his investment returns. He sells a certain stock he already owns through securities borrowing and plans to buy it back after the stock price drops, thus profiting from the price difference.

This represents the most basic way of engaging in financing and securities borrowing.

In margin trading, Jack also faces the following risks:

1. Market risk: Margin trading increases investment leverage, amplifying Jack's losses if stock prices decline. He may suffer greater losses as a result.

2. Interest risk: Margin trading requires paying interest on borrowed funds. If investment returns are lower than the interest paid, Jack may incur losses.

3. Forced liquidation risk: If the funds in Jack's margin trading account are insufficient, the brokerage may require additional margin or force liquidate his positions, leading to partial or total losses.

Therefore, although margin trading offers potential investment opportunities, it also comes with higher risks. When engaging in margin trading, you should carefully select the trading instruments, control risks sensibly, avoid excessive leverage, and ensure the safety of your investments.