Something not often discussed:
"How do you manage your margins?"
Being forced to make a margin call is clearly not the best way to manage positions. I like to choose my exit points, not leave it to my broker. So I make sure I hold a lot of excess liquidity when I finish trading for the day. But not exactly a scientific process on my part, it's based on feel, experience, market volatility.
It's possible that I could get forced out of a position overnight by my broker if their automated liquidation system kicked in. It hasn't happened yet.
Any rules of thumb you use, for example a minimum % of excess liquidity versus margin deposited? Or do you leave your pager/mobile phone on overnight and arrange for a friendly nighttime call when you might be close to a margin call?
"How do you manage your margins?"
Being forced to make a margin call is clearly not the best way to manage positions. I like to choose my exit points, not leave it to my broker. So I make sure I hold a lot of excess liquidity when I finish trading for the day. But not exactly a scientific process on my part, it's based on feel, experience, market volatility.
It's possible that I could get forced out of a position overnight by my broker if their automated liquidation system kicked in. It hasn't happened yet.
Any rules of thumb you use, for example a minimum % of excess liquidity versus margin deposited? Or do you leave your pager/mobile phone on overnight and arrange for a friendly nighttime call when you might be close to a margin call?