FXscalper
you could if you wanted to. Our computers would place a stop 48 pips away. But, to be honest, if you are trading spot currencies your stops should be much tighter than this anyway, unless you were trading a 'dead hand' system in which case you would presumably have more leeway (cash) available. 48 pips loss implies that you are looking for 150 pips on the up side (using the 3 to 1 rule) and how many spot traders are looking for that?
Margin is there to be used if you want it. It is up to the client to limit his own exposure as in all trading situations. We give clients the opportunity to trade on reasonable prices, we dont force anyone to deal and if anyone cares to come to our seminars we are absolutely up front about the risks and pitfalls of Spread Betting (and of trading in general).
One of my favorite examples is that if you were a hedge fund and returned 30% in a year to your investors you would be considered 'brilliant' a 'genius' and invited to dinner parties and be talked about in newspapers etc... but too many 'punters' try to turn £5,000 into £10,000 in one day! We continually stress that you should be looking for profits of £60 on each trade whilst risking just £20 with that kind of capital.
Simon