The increased margins at the CME are in response to higher index values as well as the reality that renewed domestic terror could break the markets 5-10% overnight. You should know that some traders sold the market merely because of futures margins being raised today!
Tradestation and many other firms offer cheaper than 50% daytrading margins. There is clearly a disconnect between the fear of a huge overnight gap and the normal narrow range chop of the indices. While overnight margins are mandated by CME Clearing, daytrade margins are purely discretionary on behalf of the member firms.
Tradestation and many other firms offer cheaper than 50% daytrading margins. There is clearly a disconnect between the fear of a huge overnight gap and the normal narrow range chop of the indices. While overnight margins are mandated by CME Clearing, daytrade margins are purely discretionary on behalf of the member firms.

