The advantage of using leverage is that you can use more money than you have to increase your returns. The disadvantage is that you can lose more money than you invest when trading with leverage. It all depends on how you use the leverage and how you manage your risk.
You Have More Control Than You Think
Leverage makes a rather boring market incredibly exciting, but when your money is on the line, exciting is not always good, and that is what leverage has brought to FX. Without leverage, traders would be surprised to see a 10% move in their account in one year. However, a trader using leverage can easily see a 10% move in one day. Typical amounts of leverage tend to be too high, and it is important for you to know that much of the volatility you experience when trading is due more to the leverage on your trade than the move in the underlying asset.
Leverage Amounts
Leverage is usually given in a fixed amount that can vary with different brokers. Each broker gives out leverage based on their rules and regulations. Some typical leverage ratios are 50:1, 100:1, 200:1, and 400:1:
50:1: 50:1 leverage means that for every $1 you have in your account, you can place a trade worth up to $50. As an example, if you deposited $500, you would be able to trade amounts up to $25,000 on the market. 100:1: 100:1 leverage means that for every dollar in your account, you can place a trade worth up to $100. This ratio is a typical amount of leverage offered on a standard lot account. The typical $2,000 minimum deposit for a standard account would give you the ability to control $200,000. 200:1: 200:1 leverage means that for every $1 you have in your account, you can place a trade worth up to $200. The 200:1 ratio is a typical amount of leverage offered on a mini-lot account. The typical minimum deposit on such an account is around $300, with which you can trade up to $60,000. 400:1: 400:1 leverage means that for every $1 you have in your account, you can place a trade worth $400. Some brokers offer 400:1 on mini-lot accounts; however, beware of any broker who offers this type of leverage for a small account. Anyone who makes a $300 deposit into a forex account and tries to trade with 400:1 leverage could be wiped out in a matter of minutes—one losing $300 trade at this ratio could cost you $120,000.
Professional Traders and Leverage
Professional traders usually trade with very low leverage. Keeping your leverage lower protects your capital when you make losing trades and keeps your returns consistent. No matter what’s your style, remember that just because the leverage is there, that does not mean you have to use it. In general, the less leverage you use, the better. It takes experience to really know when to use leverage and when not to. Staying cautious will keep you in the game for the long run.
