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Futures Trading Margin Requirements

Optimus Futures offers low day-trading margins to accommodate futures traders that require flexible leverage to trade their accounts. Day trading margins, also known as intraday margins, are typically provided as a percentage of the initial margin (E.g., 25%) or a nominal amount (E.g., $500). This is the minimum amount required to enter a position per contract during regular trading hours without carrying that position past the session’s close.

Initial Margin, also known as Overnight or Exchange Margin, is set by the exchanges and is universal for all brokers and clearing firms. This is the amount required to carry a contract past the daily close. Every trader needs to have an amount equal to the initial margin requirement in their account balance to hold a futures position past the closing time of that market.

Contract Symbol Day Trading Margins Exchange Margins
Micro E-Mini S&P 500MES$40$1,150
Micro E-Mini Dow JonesMYM$50$900
Micro E-Mini Russell 2000M2K$50 $650
Micro E-Mini Nasdaq 100MNQ$50$1,700
Micro BitcoinMBT$250 $2,260
Micro Crude OilMCL$50 $510
Micro GoldMGC$50$750
Micro SilverSIL$200$2,500
E-Micro Australian DollarM6A$40$160
E-Micro British PoundM6B$50$215
E-Micro EuroM6E$50$220
E-Micro Canadian DollarMCD$50$148
E-Micro Japanese YenMJY$50$190
E-Micro Swiss FrancMSF$50$330
Micro 30-Year Yield30Y$50$200
Micro 10-Year Yield10Y$50$175
Micro 5-Year Yield5YY$50$140
Micro 2-Year Yield2YY$50$120
Contract Symbol Day Trading Margins Exchange Margin
E-Mini S&P 500ES$400$11,500
E-Mini Dow JonesYM$500$9,000
E-Mini Russell 2000RTY$500$6,500
E-Mini Nasdaq 100NQ$500$17,000
Contract Symbol Day Trading Margins Exchange Margin
Crude Oil FuturesCL$500$5,100
E-Mini Crude OilQM$250$2,550
Micro Crude OilMCL$50$510
Heating OilHO$500$5,500
Natural GasNG$250$6,400
E-Mini Natural GasQG$100$1,600
RBOB GasolineRB$500$5,300
Contract Symbol Day Trading Margins Exchange Margin
30YR Treasury BondZB$500$3,500
30 YR Ultra BondUB$500$6,500
10YR Treasury NoteZN$200$1,400
10YR Ultra Treasury NoteTN$250$2,200
5YR Treasury NoteZF$100$725
2YR Treasury NoteZT$50$310
Micro 30-Year Yield30Y$50$200
Micro 10-Year Yield10Y$50$175
Micro 5-Year Yield5YY$50$140
Micro 2-Year Yield2YY$50$120
Contract Symbol Day Trading Margins Exchange Margin
Corn FuturesZC$250$1,525
Soybean FuturesZS$500$3,100
Soybean Meal FuturesZM$350$1,750
Soybean Oil FuturesZL$350$2,500
Oat FuturesZO$150$1,425
Rough Rice FuturesZR$200$900
Wheat FuturesZW$250$1,875
HRW Wheat FuturesKE$300$2,125
Mini CornXC$50$305
Mini WheatXW$50$375
Mini SoybeanXK$100$620
Feeder Cattle FuturesGF$350$2,900
Live Cattle FuturesLE $200$1,600
Lean Hog FuturesHE$200$1,900
Lumber FuturesLBS$2,000$7,750
Contract Symbol Day Trading Margins Exchange Margin
Gold FuturesGC$500$7,500
Mini Gold FuturesQO$250$3,750
Micro Gold FuturesMGC$50$750
Copper HG$500$6,000
Silver FuturesSI$1,000$12,500
Contract Symbol Day Trading Margins Exchange Margin
Australian Dollar6A$200$1,600
British Pound6B$250$2,150
Canadian Dollar6C$150$1,480
Euro Futures6E$250$2,200
Japanese Yen6J$250$1,900
Brazillian Real6L$200$1,250
Mexican Peso6M$200$1,400
New Zealand Dollar6N$250$1,900
Russian Ruble6R$300$1,900
Swiss Franc6S$400$3,300
African Rand6Z$400$1,800
E-Mini Euro E7$150$1,100
E-Mini YenJ7$150$950
E-Micro Australian DollarM6A$40$160
E-Micro British PoundM6B$50$215
E-Micro EuroM6E$50$220
E-Micro Canadian DollarMCD$50$148
E-Micro Japanese YenMJY$50$190
E-Micro Swiss FrancMSF$50$330

Initial and Maintenance Margin requirements are set by the respective exchanges and fluctuate daily. If you are using the Firetip X trading platform, you can find the exchange initial and maintenance margin requirements under the symbol information section. If you are using a 3rd party trading platform, you may also be able to view the margin requirements within the platform. You can also use the Margin Calculator in your Ironbeam online account portal.

If your account is on margin call, it means that the margin requirement on your current positions is greater than your account balance. To get off a margin call, you will either need to liquidate enough of your positions to reduce your account’s margin requirement or add funds to your account to cover your margin deficit. Ironbeam will charge a margin call fee if your margin deficit is not met by the time of market close.

For any further questions, contact us at support@optimusfutures.com.

Need Lower Margins?

Request a Margin Quote for the specific markets and contracts you trade. If you have immediate questions, feel free to call us directly at (800) 771-6748 and one of our client representatives will assist you..

Get Your Margin Quote

Optimus Futures, LLC and/or our Clearing FCMs maintains the right to liquidate any position at any time if a margin call and/or deficit occurs. The customer would be responsible for any deficit that occurs as a result of liquidations. We will make our best efforts to contact customers to address margin call depending on the severity of the call. Accounts that are subject to margin calls may experience higher commissions due to increased risk. Specific day trading margins from select FCMs that are well below average rates may subject you to much higher fees than provided above. Contracts with relatively low liquidity may subject you to additional fees.

The margin rates above was drawn from sources believed to be reliable. Although it is believed that information provided is accurate, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data. For current margin rates, please contact us or visit the exchanges’ Websites listed on our Exchange Access Page. The margins listed on this page are for informational purposes only and are subject to change at any time without notice. Day Trading Margins may differ according to your clearing firm. The margins displayed above are effective for traders executing on Rithmic and cleared by Ironbeam. Please consult your broker to confirm the current margins for your account at our other clearing firms.

Futures and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Clients may lose more than their initial investment. Past performance is not indicative of future results.