Recently I upgraded to portfolio margin account, which parameter should I watch to avoid margin call? When I was Reg T margin account, I knew that there is a parameter called SMA, I should keep this number positive to avoid a margin call, but when I upgraded to portfolio margin account, this parameter no longer exists any more, so which parameter should I watch closely when I leverage too much? There are several parameters at the Account-> Margins column, basically Initial Margin and Maintenance Margin. Should I just keep my Net Liquidation Value above the Maintenance Margin? I have googled and read a bunch of stuff, but still I can't figure out.
I'm thinking of eventually upgrading to margin as well, so please let me know if you or anyone else figures it out.
This question is in the IB forum. If anyone wants information on PMA with Lightspeed, please email me.
Keep your net liq value at least 4SD above maintenance margin and set liquidate last on anything that ever has a wide bid-ask spread. I got burned one time when IB liquidated an option position with a market order instead of just delta hedging it or selling something else. Net liq value < maintenance margin triggers (very fast) liquidation.