Margin

Borrowed funds from a broker used to increase buying power beyond your own cash.

What It Means

Margin is borrowed money from your broker, used to increase your buying power beyond what your own cash could purchase — it lets you take a larger position with less capital, at the cost of interest and added risk.

Example

With ₹50,000 in your account and a broker offering 4x margin, you could take a position worth up to ₹2,00,000. A 5% move against you now costs ₹10,000 — 20% of your actual capital, not 5%.

Warning

Margin amplifies losses exactly as much as it amplifies gains. A move that would be a minor dent on an unleveraged position can wipe out a large share of your capital on a margined one.