Quote from mike007:
I already know how to do it. MAX LOSS is my margin requirements.
1. At what point in time you calculate your max loss? I am assuming that you mean at expiration. If that is what you mean, your broker and the SEC do not think like that. They calculate the margin (for certain positions) not at the end but during the position life. You may think this is not important for something like a put, but if you do it prior to expiration you should not use only price to determine the max loss (or any other figure to use as the max not to be exceeded) but also the other variables.
2. Going back to the margin on the put, run the formula not at the end but during, play with extreme values to understand things better.
3. If you think that the formulas are not imporant the way they are, ask your broker to add this to the put margin formula for instance: Max (k, CURRENT formula) where K is the strike. If the added term of strike value is not imporant, your broker should be able to accomodate you.
The reality is that the broker (not the guy who answers the phone, but the man who owns the license) will immediately have his antenna up as he will know that only a shark asks the question you would have asked.
He will not do it, because he knows the implications of what you are asking him to do. Those implications are probably taught to him in special classes on margining in SEC courses, etc.
4. While speaking to your broker, also ask him why in the hell he puts in the formula a 2.50 minimum per share in margin calculations.
Why $2.50 in there, and why not another number?
This later point should be answered quickly by any person who aspire to be an expert. If a person cannot answer it, then sorry they do not know their area.
PS: there is a reason for the $2.50, but not any other number.
5. Let me stop here, but I want to say that you need to study the margin formulas not to run the numbers but to understand the reasoning and some hidden aspects to them. In options, if you can see something that others do not see, you can turn a profit. Study your margins very seriously.