I'm not sure if this is the right place for this thread, but the posters here seem to be very in-tune with brokerage firms, so here goes...
I just became acquainted with the term "portfolio margining" a couple of days ago.
My broker (Schwab) does not allow it, and I'm not sure if E-trade does. Is anyone aware of firms who allow you to use it?
The reason I ask the question is because I stumbled across a stock, CTIC, which I could short sell @ $1.04, sell the $1 put for $.40, and buy the $1 call for $.30 - netting $.14 - IF Schwab had portfolio margining.
It would have been a nearly risk-free trade - with the exception being if the stock had risen, or was anticipated to rise, after close of business on expiry day - when I could not have exercised the long calls.
Schwab would have instead held out margin requirements on everything, instead of (as I understand portfolio margining does) recognizing that I was almost fully protected from unlimited movements both up and down.
Thanks for any and all input.
I just became acquainted with the term "portfolio margining" a couple of days ago.
My broker (Schwab) does not allow it, and I'm not sure if E-trade does. Is anyone aware of firms who allow you to use it?
The reason I ask the question is because I stumbled across a stock, CTIC, which I could short sell @ $1.04, sell the $1 put for $.40, and buy the $1 call for $.30 - netting $.14 - IF Schwab had portfolio margining.
It would have been a nearly risk-free trade - with the exception being if the stock had risen, or was anticipated to rise, after close of business on expiry day - when I could not have exercised the long calls.
Schwab would have instead held out margin requirements on everything, instead of (as I understand portfolio margining does) recognizing that I was almost fully protected from unlimited movements both up and down.
Thanks for any and all input.