For example, if you have a $10,000 trading account and lost $1,000 in an open futures position, that loss would be reflected against your margin requirements at the end of the day.

The margin ranges usually between 3% and 12%. Let's say trader A needs to prepare $5,500 or the initial margin. In addition, there is also a maintenance margin, for example, $5,000.

If the minimum exchange margin was $3,500, it would equate to about 4.5 percent of the underlying value of the E-mini S&P futures contract.

WESTLAKE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Charles Schwab, a leader in retail investing and trading, today announced the launch of futures and forex trading, as well as portfolio margin, on its thinkorswim ...

The frenzied oil futures market is giving traders a new headache -- it now costs significantly more to trade the same amount of oil. Initial margins, or the collateral that clearing houses require ...

WESTLAKE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Charles Schwab, a leader in retail investing and trading, today announced the launch of futures and forex trading, as well as portfolio margin, on its thinkorswim ...