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8) Initial Margin Requirements under Regulations T, U, and X
Percent of market value
Effective date Margin
stocks
Convertible
bonds
Short sales,
T only 1
1934, Oct. 1 25-45 ... ...
1936, Feb. 1 25-55 ... ...
1936, Apr. 1 55 ... ...
1937, Nov. 1 40 ... 50
1945, Feb. 5 50 ... 50
1945, July 5 75 ... 75
1946, Jan. 21 100 ... 100
1947, Feb. 1 75 ... 75
1949, Mar. 3 50 ... 50
1951, Jan. 17 75 ... 75
1953, Feb. 20 50 ... 50
1955, Jan. 4 60 ... 60
1955, Apr. 23 70 ... 70
1958, Jan. 16 50 ... 50
1958, Aug. 5 70 ... 70
1958, Oct. 16 90 ... 90
1960, July 28 70 ... 70
1962, July 10 50 ... 50
1963, Nov. 6 70 ... 70
1968, Mar. 11 70 50 70
1958, June 8 80 60 80
1970, May 6 65 50 65
1971, Dec. 6 55 50 55
1972, Nov. 24 65 50 65
1974, Jan. 3 50 50 50

Note: These regulations, adopted by the Board of Governors pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, limit the amount of credit to purchase and carry "margin securities" (as defined in the regulations) when such value is collateralized by securities. Margin requirements on securities are the difference between the market value (100 percent) and the maximum loan value of collateral as prescribed by the Board. Regulation T was adopted effective October 1, 1934; Regulation U, effective May 1, 1936; and Regulation X, effective November 1, 1971. The former Regulation G, which was adopted effective March 11, 1968, was merged with Regulation U, effective April 1, 1998.

1. From October 1, 1934, to October 31, 1937, the requirement was the margin "customarily required" by the brokers and dealers.   Return to table

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