The basic concept of leverage in the stock market, also called margin trading, involves borrowing capital to invest in more stock than what you can afford on your own. Stock market leverage can result in an increase in your return on investment, but you can lose more money than when buying stock using only your funds.

How much can you leverage a stock?

Stock investors are allowed to borrow up to 50% of the value of a position under Reg T, but some brokerage firms may impose more stringent requirements. Maximum leverage in the currency (forex) markets can be quite high; some firms allow leverage of more than 100:1.

Should I use leverage to buy stocks?

Leverage enables you to get a much larger exposure to the market you're trading than the amount you deposited to open the trade. Leveraged products, such as spread betting and CFDs, magnify your potential profit – but also your potential loss.