First time in the terminal: what confused you most?
The MetaTrader terminal shows balance, equity, margin, free margin and margin level — five numbers that overlap confusingly. Most beginners stare at it for weeks without knowing which one to watch.
What confused you?
- the number you misunderstood at first
- how you eventually learned the difference
- which one you check before opening a trade now
The leverage and margin guide defines each number with worked examples.
Background: Leverage and margin explained: margin calls, stop-outs and how losses grow
Leverage lets you control a large position with a small deposit. It magnifies losses exactly as much as gains, and it is behind most blown trading accounts.
What does 30:1 leverage mean?
You can control a position 30 times larger than your margin deposit. $1,000 of margin opens a $30,000 position, and gains and losses are calculated on the full $30,000.
What is a margin call?
A warning from your broker that losses have reduced your margin level to a set threshold. If it keeps falling, the broker starts closing positions automatically, which is called a stop-out.
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