The Q was not "how do i learn to trade", the Q was "how much leverage is needed"
If the Q was "how do i learn to trade" my answer would be "paper trading is fantasy world, do it for 1 month to learn what stops, limits, market, ECNs, lots, tiers etc...means, but you ain't gonna learn trading paper trading, bc when its not real money, everyone can go 500 shares in BIDU for a scalp lol"