Interactive Brokers - How much margin?

[bottomdollar]

Hey All,
I wanna test trading DOW mini futures.. I'll be dealing with just the one contract (or perhaps two ).. just wondering how much margin (cash) I'd require in my account with IB to do this.
Many thanks
BD

 

[FTSE Beater]

Hiya BD

Try http://www.interactivebrokers.com/cgi-bin/margin_amer.pl?ib_entity=IB-Us

HTH

 

[The Beyonder]

The best thing to do is to type in a new order for 1 or 2 contracts but don't transmit.

Instead, right click and select "Check Margin", that will tell you.

 

[oatman]

Don't leave it so tight that you're watching the bottom line instead of the market.

 

[bottomdollar]

Has anyone done what the Beyonder has done to find the margin? I've just financed my account today so should be a few days before I can get into the platform!
Thanks

 

[donaldduke]

The intra day margin is $1250 per contract or $2500 for overnight positions.

The minium amount to open an IB account is much more than this, so you should be ok if you
are only trading one contract.


Its quite illogical that the margin for EUR which trades at 12.5 dollars per point and
regulary makes moves of 200 points intra day is almost the same as a puny YM contract and
much less than a mini ES contract.

 

[Hittfeld]

Has anyone done what the Beyonder has done to find the margin? I've just financed my account today so should be a few days before I can get into the platform!
Thanks

Its the recommended procedure and I use it regularly.

Hittfeld

 

[bottomdollar]

Thanks guys.. much appreciated