IB - ES Future option margin

[goingbackto666]

Short Feb 1820c expiring Feb 21st:

Anyone want to explain why the maintenance margin required is so far out of line with SPAN which is presently $4756/4325 on ES?

 

[just21]

IB customers are short a lot of ES options?

 

[darwin666]

yeah. one of the reasons. but isnt margin standardized. ie. if you were to use TOS, it should be the same. I do a lot of SPY and other OPTIONs not on e mini.. as far as i can tell . if u r closer to the money, it is usually higher..

 

[1245]

Short Feb 1820c expiring Feb 21st:

Anyone want to explain why the maintenance margin required is so far out of line with SPAN which is presently $4756/4325 on ES?

Many brokers charge more margin than SPAN for naked short options. This % is higher than most. If you are actively trading options on futures you should try an FCM that focus on future not "everything". I have not seen a margin requirement above 125% of Span yet from an FCM.

1245

 

[luisHK]

yeah. one of the reasons. but isnt margin standardized. ie. if you were to use TOS, it should be the same. I do a lot of SPY and other OPTIONs not on e mini.. as far as i can tell . if u r closer to the money, it is usually higher..

Actually for ES and other futures options it seems TOS margin requirements are significantly lower than IB's. There is a very long thread on selling FOP on the BigMike forum and much of it is about margin requirements. For equities with portfolio margin IB is supposed to be better.