I use 6% on CORN in Dalian (I pay 6 for every 100 I buy/sell). Dalian Exchange only requires 5%, but my brokerage requires 1% more. Is CBOT giving more or less leverage? Is brokage requiring more deposit?
6 what and 100 what? Margins for both are easilly accessible: http://www.cbot.com/cbot/pub/page/0,3181,2142,00.html#1a http://www.cme.com/html.wrap/wrappedpages/clearing/pbrates/PBISOutrightCBT-AG.htm?h=2 There are also discounts for various spreads. Margins change fairly frequently and are dependent upon volatility. Not long ago, corn had $400 margins, it's now $850.
With CBOT-Corn near ~$3.50/bushel and with initial margin of $850/contract, that's ~5% margin or 20-times leverage........where it usually is.