Margin question

[junglebunny]

I already posted a 20% margin on a stock I bought. Why do you ask me to add more to my "available" cash balance when my position starts losing. I thought that is what the margin is for? Seems like you need to have money in the "available" balance as well as the margin.

[Caseynotes]

2 hours ago, junglebunny said:

I already posted a 20% margin on a stock I bought. Why do you ask me to add more to my "available" cash balance when my position starts losing. I thought that is what the margin is for? Seems like you need to have money in the "available" balance as well as the margin.

yes, there is initial margin and operational margin, of course you don't have to add, you could just allow the losing position to be closed out. Obviously if it was a winning position you wouldn't need any additional 'available' cash balance.