Advantages of Leverage Trading – Leverage Meaning in Stock Market Trading (2024)

Leverage is an important concept in the stock market, that every trader should be aware of. It is a powerful tool that can help multiply your investment potential and returns. But what is leverage and why do traders choose to use it? Here’s everything you need to know about the concept of leverage and its various advantages.

What is Leverage trading?

Leverage trading involves entering into large positions, long or short, by depositing only a small percentage of the total trade value as margin. To put it simply, leverage, coupled with zero brokerage, enables you to take up large trades even if you don’t possess the necessary capital required for the position. Traders who look to use small price movements on an asset to generate profits often use leverage trading since it allows them to take up large positions, potentially multiplying their returns.

How does Leverage trading work?

Leverage is often expressed as a multiple such as 5x or 10x. Some stockbrokers express it using ratios such as 5:1 or 10:1. The higher the ratio or multiple, the higher is the leverage. For instance, if your stockbroker offers you a 10x or a 10:1 leverage, what this essentially means is that for every 1 Rupee you deposit, your purchasing power increases by 10 times. So, if you wish to purchase a share of a company that’s trading at ₹100, all you need to do is deposit ₹10 instead of the entire trade value. This is how leverage in the stock market enables you to take up large positions by depositing only a fraction of the value as a margin.

The pros of Leverage trading

The advantages of leverage trading are plenty. Let’s take a quick look at a few of the most important ones.

  • Allows you to enter into large positions

    This is by far the most obvious advantage of leverage trading. By simply depositing a small percentage of the trade value of say 10% or 20%, you can enter into much larger positions. Using leverage, you can gain access to high-priced stocks which would otherwise be out of your purchasing power.
  • Enables you to get higher returns

    Since leverage trading allows you to purchase more shares, you get the chance to get higher returns on your investment. For instance, with a 5x leverage, you can purchase 5 times more shares. And if the market moves in your favour, you stand to gain 5 times more return on your investment.
  • Allows efficient use of capital

    Leverage allows you to use your capital in a more productive manner. For example, you can free up some funds by maintaining a small balance in your account without impacting your ability to trade. The freed-up funds can then be invested elsewhere in other low-risk investment options to diversify your portfolio. Alternatively, you can also take up multiple positions, long and short, in different stocks simultaneously to increase your profit potential and decrease risk.
  • Enables you to trade even during periods of low volatility

    With leverage, you don’t require high price fluctuations to generate profits. By entering into large positions, you can still generate meaningful returns even during bouts of low volatility.

Example of Leverage in stock trading

Here’s an example that can help you better understand the concept of leverage in the stock market.

Assume that you wish to enter into a long (buy) position in Reliance Industries Limited. You purchase 1,000 shares of the company at a current market price of ₹2,400. Now normally, to purchase 1,000 shares of Reliance Industries, you would have to pay ₹24,00,000 (₹2,400 x 1000 shares). However, since you’re planning to trade intraday, your stockbroker offers you the benefit of leverage trading.

Let’s assume that you get 75% funding in Reliance Industries Ltd. So, to take up an intraday position worth ₹24,00,000, you will have to deposit ₹6,00,000 as margin.

Assuming the market moves in your favour and the share price goes up to ₹2,500 in just 20 days, your total profit would be ₹100 per share (₹2,500 - ₹2,400), which translates to around ₹1,00,000 (₹100 x 1,000 shares). Even after accounting for 20-day interest of ₹9,360 (9.49% p.a. on funding of ₹ 18,00,000) you’d still generate a return on invested capital of 15% on a stock movement of 4.16%. All this is possible because of leverage.

So, if you’re planning to indulge in leverage trading, m.Stock is the right place. With our Margin Trading Facility (eMargin), you get up to 80% funding in 700+ stocks at one of the lowest interest rates, starting at 6.99%. This facility comes with zero subscription fees and zero brokerage charges when you open an m.Stock account. So, don’t let market opportunities pass you by, open demat account and invest big with MTF today!

Advantages of Leverage Trading – Leverage Meaning in Stock Market Trading (2024)

FAQs

Advantages of Leverage Trading – Leverage Meaning in Stock Market Trading? ›

For instance, if the leverage ratio is 20:1, it means you can open a trade that is 20 times your initial investment. This also means that you need only 5% of the value of the deal in your trading account. In simple terms, leverage allows traders to increase their buying power.

What is the advantage of leverage? ›

Furthermore, using leverage gives you access to more expensive investment possibilities that you wouldn't otherwise have with less initial capital. In short-term, low-risk situations where large amounts of capital are required, leverage can be used.

Which of the following is an advantage of leveraged trading? ›

Enables you to get higher returns. Since leverage trading allows you to purchase more shares, you get the chance to get higher returns on your investment. For instance, with a 5x leverage, you can purchase 5 times more shares.

What is leverage in stock trading? ›

Leverage is an investment strategy of using borrowed capital to increase the potential return on an investment. Leverage can also refer to the amount of debt used to finance an asset. If you have an investment plan and believe strongly in it, you might want to invest as much money as you possibly can in that plan.

Is leverage good or bad in trading? ›

The impact of leverage on your trading. Leverage is, in general, a powerful and useful feature of CFDs. It gives you the flexibility to take significant positions on key markets without tying up excessive amounts of capital, and magnifies the size of any profits you might make. However, leverage can be dangerous.

How does leverage make you more money? ›

One of the main advantages of using leverage is the ability to generate higher profits. By borrowing funds to invest in assets, traders can magnify their gains. For example, if a trader invests $10,000 in stock and the stock rises by 10%, they would make a profit of $1,000.

Why is leverage so risky? ›

The biggest risk that arises from high financial leverage occurs when a company's return on ROA does not exceed the interest on the loan, which greatly diminishes a company's return on equity and profitability.

What happens if you lose money with leverage? ›

This means that if you lose on your trade, you'll still be on the hook for extra charges. Leverage also has the potential downside of being complex. Investors must be aware of their financial position and the risks they inherit when entering into a leveraged position.

What leverage do most traders use? ›

In the markets of forex, the common leverage used is 100:1, considered high. What this essentially means is that for each $1,000 in your trading account, you are permitted to trade till $100,000 of currency value.

What are the benefits of trading without leverage? ›

The main benefit of trading without leverage on the Forex market is that it limits your losses. If the value of your investment falls, you will only lose the money that you have invested and not the money that you have borrowed. This type of trading is therefore much less risky than trading on margin.

What is the best leverage for beginners? ›

As a beginner trader, it is crucial to start with low leverage. This will help you to limit your losses and learn how to manage your risk effectively. A good rule of thumb is to start with leverage of 1:10 or lower. This means that for every $1,000 in your trading account, you can control a position worth $10,000.

What are the pros and cons of leverage? ›

While leverage can enhance gains when the market moves in favour, it also escalates losses if the market moves against the position. It's important to note that leveraging magnifies risk and isn't suitable for all investors. Sudden market fluctuations can lead to significant losses.

Do you have to pay back leverage? ›

Traders do not have to repay the leverage they use in the sense of returning the borrowed funds to the broker. The leverage provided by the broker is not a loan in the traditional sense, and traders are not required to make periodic payments to settle the leverage amount.

How do you lose money in leverage trading? ›

Leverage trading can also lead to substantial losses if the market moves against you, including:
  1. Increased losses. ...
  2. Margin calls and liquidation. ...
  3. Interest charges on borrowed funds. ...
  4. Overleveraging. ...
  5. Limited risk management. ...
  6. Faster-paced trading.
6 days ago

What is leverage and its importance? ›

Financial leverage is one of the important devices which is used to measure the fixed cost proportion with the total capital of the company. If the firm acquires fixed cost funds at a higher cost, then the earnings from those assets, the earning per share and return on equity capital will decrease.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of leverage by out? ›

Overall, Leveraged Buyouts have both advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before making a decision. While they can provide benefits such as increased control, tax benefits, and higher returns, they also come with risks such as high debt levels, reduced flexibility, and potential for failure.

What are two advantages of financial leverage? ›

In the world of finance, leverage is a powerful tool that can transform modest investments into significant ones. By leveraging borrowed funds, investors can magnify their investment potential and capitalize on the difference between the cost of borrowed funds and the return generated by the investment.

What are the advantages of leveraged finance? ›

By leveraging their capital, investors are able to increase their potential returns and magnify their potential profits. This may happen exactly at a time when there is little market liquidity, i.e. a paucity of buyers, and sales by others are depressing prices.

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