Financial Spread Betting
Margin and Payments
Customers who hold open positions could become liable to pay margin. Margin is calculated using the formulae detailed in clause 17.1 of our Terms of Service.
 
For your guidance, here are some worked examples using these formulae. The first example shows the account will come onto margin call immediately on any adverse market movement. In view of this, we politely suggest that a Standard Account holder lodge with us an additional 25% more than the Margin Requirement if they choose not to restrict their losses by using Guaranteed Stop Losses.
 
Example - Margin with regard to a Financial Spread Betting Account
 
Mrs B has a Standard Account with TD Waterhouse Financial Spread Betting and therefore must deposit sufficient funds before she trades. Mrs B has deposited a £2,500 cash balance.
 
Should Mrs B open a position of £10 per point of the UK 100 Rolling Index, she will be entering into a position attracting a Margin Requirement of £2,500 (£250 x stake).
 
Should Mrs B’s position deteriorate to the extent that, marked to market, her open position was incurring losses of £600, Mrs B would require an additional £600 to cover her margin call.
 
This is calculated as follows:
 
Cash Balance:
Open Position Losses:
Margin Requirement:
Total Position:  
£2,500
(£600)
(£2,500)
(£600)
 
Margin and payments Explained
 
The Total Position of an account determines if a margin payment is required. A positive Total Position determines the available funds on the account as available margin. If the Total Position is negative, funds are required immediately. Positions may be reduced or additional funds paid to settle the margin call. It may also be possible to place Stop Losses on certain positions to reduce the risk and therefore Margin Requirement. Please be aware that each individual position opened requires a Margin Requirement.
 
Please note that it is the responsibility of you the customer, and not TD Waterhouse Financial Spread Betting, to monitor your positions and make margin payments to TD Waterhouse Financial Spread Betting immediately upon margin becoming due.
Margin calls may be made at any time in accordance with clause 17 of our Terms of Service, please pay particular attention to the entire section.
 
Margin payments in excess of £10,000 are required by electronic methods for same day transfer, please refer to clause 17 of our Terms of Service. Customers who send cheques to TD Waterhouse Financial Spread Betting are able to use these funds to trade once the cheque has cleared. Cheques can only be used to cover margin calls below the value of £10,000 and will be credited once cleared into our bank account. Margin payments in excess of £10,000 will be required by electronic method for same day transfers.
 
Please be aware that if margin payments are not received in full within 3 business days of a margin call being made, TD Waterhouse Financial Spread Betting may without notice to you and in its absolute discretion close any, or all, in whole, or in part, of your open positions.
 
TD Waterhouse Financial Spread Betting normally makes margin calls upon customers by telephone. It is the policy of TD Waterhouse Financial Spread Betting not to disclose our Company name or the nature of the call (except that it is a personal call) when attempting to contact customers by telephone, however we reserve the right to leave a detailed message, including our Company name, should we wish to do so.