Leverage Explained

What is leverage?

We know we’ve tackled this before, but this topic is so important, we felt the need to discuss it again. The textbook definition of “leverage” is having the ability to control a large amount of money using none or very little of your own money and borrowing the rest.

Forex Leverage example, to control a $100,000 position, your broker will set aside $1,000 from your account. Your leverage, which is expressed in ratios, is now 100:1. You’re now controlling $100,000 with $1,000. Let’s say the $100,000 investment rises in value to $101,000 or $1,000. If you had to come up with the entire $100,000 capital yourself, your return would be a puny 1% ($1,000 gain / $100,000 initial investment). Fortunately, you’re not leveraged 1:1, you’re leveraged 100:1. The broker only had to put aside $1,000 of your money, so your return is a groovy 100% ($1,000 gain / $1,000 initial investment). Now we want you to do a quick exercise. Calculate what your return would be if you lost $