Day Trading Buying Power

The rule increases day trading buying power to up to 4 times a pattern day trader's maintenance margin excess. For example, if a trader has $100,000 worth of equities, the leverage ratio is 4:1 meaning that it can buy securities of up to $400,000.

For day trading in equity securities, the day trading margin requirement shall be 25% of either:

1. the cost of all day trades made during the day; or
2. the highest open position during the day.

If a client's day trading margin requirement is to be calculated based on the latter method, the brokerage must maintain adequate time and tick records documenting the sequence in which each day trade is completed. Time and tick information provided by the customer is not acceptable.