Customer Accounts Flashcards
What does Reg T not apply to
US government, agency and municipal securities
Non-marketable securities. OTC not listed on exchanges
New issues under 30 days
Who applies the initial margin and the minimum maintenance margin
Initial margin: Federal reserve
Minimum maintenance margin: FINRA
What is a requirement for opening a margin account
Signing a margin agreement that includes hypothecations in street name
What regulation controls the bank to broker relationship
Regulation U - brokerage firms cannot borrow more money from banks using customer securities as collateral than what they loan to their customers
How much are banks allowed to loan to firms for customers
70% of pledged collateral
How much collateral are firms allowed to pledge to the bank
140% of customer debits
What controls the credit from broker to customer?
Regulation T
Who sets the margins for corporate bonds
FINRA through minimum maintenance margins.
Reg T does not apply to corp bonds
Under Reg T, what are the three types of applicable accounts
Cash account
Margin account
Arbitrage account
Plus:
Omnibus accounts
BD credit account
Market functions account (proprietary accounts)
Non-securities credit account (commodities, foreign exchange)
What are the Reg T requirements for a cash account
Payment must be made in full
payment must be made no later than 2 business days after settlement (S+2 = 4 business days after trade date)
What are the terms of a Reg T extension
Exceptional circumstances
allows +2 business days
a second Reg T may be granted for +2 business days
If customer does not pay by extension date, the firm is obligated to sell out the position and freeze the account for 90 days
What are the terms of a frozen account
Customer cannot buy unless firm has cash in hand
Customer cannot sell unless firm has securities in hand
What are the terms of a margin account
Customer can buy or sell short as long as Reg T initial margin is met
If Reg T does not apply, then FINRA min maintenance margin must be met
If a security is not marginable, it must be paid in full
Payments must be collected promptly, no later than 2 business days after settlement (S+2)
What is an arbitrage transaction
Simultaneous buying and selling short of the same security (short against the box)
What margin is required for Arbitrage accounts
FINRA minimum maintenance margins
Since there is no risk, the Federal reserve does not set an initial margin
What is the Reg T for convertible bonds
50%
What is the Reg T for corporate bonds
Not applicable
(Therefore FINRA minimum maintenance applies)
Greater of 20% MV or 7% of face
What is the Reg T for long stock options
100% of premium
What is the Reg T for Long LEAPs
75% of premium; within 9 months of expiration 100% of premium
What is the Reg T for short stock options
20% of the MV of underlying security + 100% of premiums - any out the money
What is the Reg T for short LEAPS
20% of the MV of underlying security + 100% of premiums - any out the money
(same as short stock options)
De minimis rule for margin calls
Margin calls are not sent for amounts less than or equal to 1k
What if minimum margin amount is more than Reg T amount?
The higher amount applies
In what cases is the minimum margin amount higher than the Reg T margin
US Government and municipals
Day trading accounts
Leveraged ETF’s
Under FINRA What is the minimum dollar amount to open a new long margin account
2k
Minimum does not apply to fully paid securities
What is the rule for minimum dollar amounts on a short margin account
Cannot be less than 2k of equity at any time.
This is due to the potential loss being unlimited
This could require a customer depositing more than 100% of their short value
Minimum amount required for day trading accounts
25,000
Cheap short stock rule
To short a stock valued from $5-$10: minimum margin is $5 per share
To short a stock valued from $0-$5: minimum margin is 100%, but never less than $2.50pps
Minimum maintenance margins for stock (Long/Short)
25% / 30%
Minimum maintenance margins for convertible bonds (Long/Short)
25% / 30%
Minimum maintenance margins for Corporate debt
Greater of 20% of MV or 7% face
Same for both long/short
Minimum maintenance margins for Municipal bonds
Greater of 15% of the MV or 7% of face
Same for both Long/Short