How to optimize forex trading: Mastering spreads, margins, and leverage

Margin is the minimum amount of funds required to initiate a trade with a higher value. In forex trading, this is typically expressed as a percentage. This means you can trade with a fraction of the total value of a trade, using your existing margin to purchase more forex than you could otherwise. However, it's essential to understand that this type of trading carries a high level of risk, as it magnifies potential gains and losses.

Leverage in forex trading is the ratio value (sometimes also expressed as a multiple) in a margin trade. For example, you could trade USD/CAD with a leverage ratio of 50:1. For every $1 USD you spend on CAD, you could purchase $50 USD worth of CAD instead.

It's essential to be aware that rate volatility and changes in global market liquidity can lead to significant spread increases around market openings and closings, following news announcements, and during times of uncertainty. We adjust our spreads to reflect these market conditions at such times, ensuring you are well-informed and prepared.

If you leave trades open during the weekend or halted markets, you can only close them once they reopen. Note that rates or "gaps" may change significantly when trading resumes. If rates move against you, a margin closeout may be triggered when trading resumes.

Margin calls are an essential aspect of leveraged trading. A margin call will be triggered if your account's Net Asset Value (NAV) falls below the minimum regulatory margin requirement. If this happens, we could ask you to deposit more funds into your account to increase your account NAV or close open positions to return your margin closeout value to greater than the regulatory margin used.

If your margin closeout value is less than your regulatory margin used, you will receive a margin call alert by email. Margin call alert emails are sent daily at 3:45 p.m. (Eastern time). They will only be sent if your account falls below the regulatory value.

When an account remains under-margined for two consecutive trading days, all open positions will be automatically closed using the current OANDA rates at the time of closing. If trading is unavailable for certain open positions, they will be automatically closed using the current OANDA rates when the markets for those instruments re-open.

A margin closeout can also occur if the margin closeout per cent reaches 100% at any time, closing all open trades in that account. Suppose trading is unavailable for certain open positions at the margin closeout. In that case, those positions will remain open, and the OANDA platform will continue to monitor your margin requirements. When the markets reopen for the remaining open positions, another margin closeout may occur if your account remains under-margined.

You can avoid margin closeouts by reducing the margin you use. You can do this by closing some trades or adding more funds to your trading account. Find out more about margin closeouts on our margin rules page.

Note: In a fast-moving market, there may be little time between warnings or insufficient time to warn you. Be mindful of the “margin closeout per cent” field in the account summary of the OANDA user interface. The closer the margin closeout per cent is to 100%, the closer you are to a margin closeout.

There are two major forex trading regulatory agencies in the US. The first is the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The main goal of the CFTC is to “promote the integrity, resilience, and vibrancy of the US derivatives markets through sound regulation.” More simply put, they are a crucial player in regulating financial markets. The second is the NFA, whose primary goal is to “safeguard the integrity of the derivatives markets, protect investors, and ensure Members meet their regulatory responsibilities.” In other words, the NFA protects investors and the derivatives market.