What Is Margin Selling?

Trading stock along with other investment securities on the margin is a credit system by which an investor accepts a loan from a broker or investment firm to accomplish securities purchases. Margin buying and selling is only for that experienced investor with a history of smart financial dealings, as the potential liability for trading in this manner could be great if stock prices suddenly drop.

1. Purchasing upon Margin
An investor purchases on margin when he contributes some of the purchase price for a stock or additional securities investment, with his securities broker paying the exceptional balance. The securities broker is willing to pay the main purchase price based on the profit potential of the actual newly-acquired investment. The broker retains possession of the purchased investment as collateral to compel the investor to settle the broker's portion of the margin purchase. If the actual investor doesn't pay, the broker keeps the securities expense.

2. Broker Margin Calling
A margin call is a demand from the broker or futures clearing house to a client or even member to contribute money to her margin deposit account to create up the balance lost by a dip in expense value. An investor must usually bring the balance up to and including predetermined minimum level to keep the account current and continue creating a portfolio, according to BusinessDictionary. com. An investor failing to make the necessary deposit to bring the account current loses a chance to trade on margin with the broker, or futures cleaning house, and may also lose possession of all border stock in her portfolio.

3. Short Selling Stock
Short selling stock is a kind of margin trading in which an investor sells a share of stock he doesn't own. A broker or investment firm loans the security to the investor during the time of the transaction so the investor can process the deal. The investor's liability for the loan remains until he purchases sufficient stock to change what the broker or investment firm previously loaned him or her. If the stock price drops before the investor buys stock to change the loan, he turns a profit. If the share price rises, he takes a loss.

4. Restrictions upon Short Selling
As of 2004, the U. S. Investments and Exchange Commission (SEC) placed restrictions on short promoting. According to Fidelity. com, the Short Sale Rule only allows the practice associated with short selling under market conditions where the stock price in question is increasing or stable from its previous trading position. This helps prevent an investor from taking a significant financial loss as a result of falling stock price. An investment firm or broker also retains the best to reject any short sale offer.