Margin Buying Basics | by Wall Street Survivor

#Opening a margin account allows you to trade on borrowed money. You have to open up a margin account when shorting stocks because you’re borrowing the stock rather than purchasing it. In order to maintain a margin account, you must have collateral to assure the broker that he’ll get his money back. Collateral is something (in this case money) that the borrower gives the lender as protection in case he fails to pay back what he owes.