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Why has my margin increased when opening a position?
Due to rulings from European regulators, we’ve increased our minimum margin rates for new positions. You can find out more about these rules, and how they’ll affect your trading, on our website.
The following margin policy changes have also come into effect:
- If you open any new offsetting positions (where you are long and short on the same market), then you will be required to cover the full margin on both legs. Positions opened before 28 July 2018 will be unaffected
- Any position rolled over from before 28 July 2018 will be subject to the new minimum margin rates. If you do not have sufficient funds to support the new positions at the increased rates, your positions will be at risk of closure
- Any new position will not benefit from a margin reduction as a result of adding a guaranteed, or a non-guaranteed stop
These changes do not apply to professional clients, nor to clients contracting with IG entities that are outside the European countries subject to ESMA regulation.
If you have high levels of trading experience, a large investment portfolio or experience working in financial services, you may meet regulatory criteria to be categorised as professional.
If you think you may be eligible, you can elect to be categorised as professional in three steps:
- Log in to your IG account
- Follow the prompts
- Answer the questions
If you can’t see the prompt, go to ‘settings’ > ‘client and account status’ on desktop, or the 'accounts' area in-app.
Please note that if you elect to be categorised as a professional client, you’re not deemed to need the same level of protection as a retail client and your trading may be subject to fewer restrictions – including those on margin rates.
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