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Access more market exposure with margin trading on Clarity. Learn how leverage works, understand the risks and apply for a ZAR or USD Margin Account.
Leverage allows you to control a position that is larger than the amount you commit upfront.
You do not need to allocate the full value of every position at the outset. This may allow you to manage your available capital across multiple trades, provided you can meet all margin requirements.
Margin trading can give you the flexibility to take a long position when you expect an instrument to rise or a short position when you expect it to fall.
Clarity offers dedicated ZAR and USD Margin Accounts, allowing you to trade in the account currency that suits your strategy and available capital.
Clarity gives eligible traders access to margin trading alongside its other investment and trading products. You can choose whether to trade with leverage or use a fully funded account, depending on your objectives, experience and risk tolerance.
Margin trading is not suitable for everyone. The benefit of having it as an option is flexibility—not a requirement to use leverage.
Margin is the amount you need to commit to open and maintain a leveraged position. Leverage determines how much market exposure you receive relative to that margin.
Suppose you want R25,000 of market exposure.
With 5× leverage, you would need R5,000 in margin.
Your committed margin is multiplied by your leverage.
Your profit or loss is calculated using the full R25,000 position — not only the R5,000 committed as margin.
Your profit or loss is calculated against the full R25,000 market exposure.
Using higher leverage increases your market exposure relative to your margin. Always trade responsibly and manage your risk.
The amount you commit to open and maintain a leveraged position.
The multiplier that determines your total market exposure relative to your margin.
Another term for leverage. A geared position is a leveraged position.
Margin is what you commit. Leverage or gearing determines the size of your exposure.
These accounts are designed for eligible traders who want to use leverage when trading available instruments on Clarity.
Your account will show the margin required to open a position, the total exposure created by the trade and the available equity supporting your open positions.
Before placing a trade, review:
If the required margin is not restored—or if the market moves too quickly—Clarity may close positions to reduce your account’s exposure. This is known as a forced liquidation or stop-out.
A forced liquidation does not guarantee that losses will be limited. In fast-moving or volatile markets, losses may exceed the margin initially committed.
The spread is the difference between the buy and sell prices. It applies when you open and close a position.
Leveraged positions held through a Margin Account may attract ongoing funding costs. These costs reflect the financing associated with maintaining exposure greater than the amount committed as margin.
Funding costs do not apply to fully funded positions.
Rates and charges may change. Review the latest pricing before placing a trade.
Getting started is simple. Open a free Clarity account in minutes, explore your options, and open an instant, notice or fixed-term savings account.
Margin trading allows you to open a position by committing only a portion of its total value as margin. Leverage provides exposure to the full position.
Margin trading can give you greater market exposure with less capital upfront. It may also allow you to use your available capital across multiple positions and trade both rising and falling markets.
Greater exposure also means greater risk. Losses are calculated on the full position, not only the margin committed.
Yes. Eligible clients can apply for a dedicated ZAR Margin Account or USD Margin Account.
No. Margin trading is optional. Clarity gives you the choice to use leverage through a Margin Account or trade without leverage through a fully funded account.
The available leverage depends on the instrument, account type, applicable requirements and Clarity’s current terms. Review the margin requirement shown before placing a trade.
Margin trading may allow you to take long or short positions on available instruments. A long position benefits if the market rises, while a short position benefits if the market falls, before costs and other adjustments.
Yes. Because your profit or loss is based on the full leveraged position, losses may exceed the margin initially committed.
A margin call occurs when the equity in your Margin Account falls below the required level. You may need to deposit more funds or reduce your open positions.
Forced liquidation occurs when Clarity closes one or more positions to reduce exposure after margin requirements are not met or when the account reaches the applicable stop-out level.
Yes. Margin positions may attract funding costs in addition to the spread. Review the latest pricing before trading.
Margin trading is generally intended for traders who understand leverage, can monitor positions actively and can afford the potential losses. Clarity applies eligibility and suitability requirements before enabling margin trading.
Margin trading gives eligible Clarity clients another way to access the markets.
Use a ZAR or USD Margin Account to:
The option to use margin does not remove the need for careful risk management. Leverage can magnify losses quickly, and you may lose more than the margin initially committed.
If you understand the risks and are ready to trade with leverage, apply for a Clarity Margin Account.
CFDs are complex financial instruments. Leveraged CFD trading carries a high level of risk because leverage magnifies both profits and losses. You may lose more than the margin initially committed. Consider whether you understand how CFDs and margin trading work and whether you can afford the potential losses. Eligibility and suitability requirements apply. This information is general in nature and does not constitute financial advice.