Ameritrade lowers margin requirements Jun 23.
Got this in email tonight. Broker wars heating up? Notice the stock was flipping in AH trading close 17.14
This prob applies to all customers tho I'm Apex. Post in site appears to be universal.
As part of our effort to improve the trading experience for our clients, we are pleased to announce that TD AMERITRADE has decided to change our margin requirements.
Effective June 23, 2010, we will be lowering the account minimum margin requirements for both equity and index options positions. In addition, we will be changing the margin requirements for individual equity and index call and put options positions. Please see below for details.
Reduced Account Minimum Equity Requirements
Uncovered Equity or Index Options Positions
We currently require a minimum of $10,000 in marginable securities or cash in order to maintain uncovered equity options positions in your account, and $25,000 in order to maintain uncovered index options positions. Effective June 23, 2010, we are lowering the minimum equity requirement for maintaining either position to $5,000.
Changes to Margin Requirements for Individual Positions
Uncovered Equity or Index Call Options Positions For an uncovered equity or index call, the margin requirements will be whichever of the following is greater:
20% of the underlying security PLUS 100% of the option premium MINUS the out-of-the-money amount (if any)*
Or
10% of the underlying security PLUS 100% of the option premium
Or
$50 PLUS 100% of the option premium
Uncovered Equity or Index Put Options Positions
For an uncovered equity or index put, the margin requirements will be whichever of the following is greater:
20% of the underlying security PLUS 100% of the option premium MINUS the out-of-the-money amount (if any)**
Or
10% of the strike price PLUS 100% of the option premium
Or
$50 PLUS 100% of the option premium
For more information about our margin requirements, please log on to your account and click "Help" (under Client Services), then "Margin Trading" and then "Margin Requirements."
If you have any questions, please log on to your account and click "Message Center" (under Home) to send us a message. A Client Services representative will respond to your query through your Message Center inbox. You can also call a Client Services representative at 800-669-3900. We're available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For faster service, please enter your account number or UserID when prompted, so that we can direct your call to a representative best suited to service your request.
Pennies not a zero sum game as much as some zero game.