Chapter 04 · Section 4.1

Margins and Exercise

What happens, if after a price change the margin deposited with the broker/clearing member/clearing house is not sufficient for a loss arising in case of exercise?

a) This case cannot occur because the margin initially collected must be high enough for the worst case.
• b) Whenever this happens the broker has to take the loss; however on average this will be covered by the margin money he receives for other customers' positions.
  No. The margin money belongs to the customer, not to the broker. It is therefore not possible to cover a margin shortfall of one customer with the excess margin of other customers.
  c) Profit and loss on every position must be assessed at the end of every trading day by the broker/clearing member/clearing house. If necessary, additional margin money must be called in.

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