SPX today is around 6500 and I've observed (using IBKR portfolio margin) the amount I need equity to short one SPX option thats well out of the money is around 10% of the total SPX value of one contract or about 65K.

    So if I have 65K in equity, I can approximately short one OTM SPX option and be able to maintain that position.

    Curious from everyone's experience, how does that 65K maintenance requirement change if:

    1. theres a big spike in VIX but the option continues to remain well OTM.
    2. SPX has a big move and the option is now right at the money, is the maintenance requirement still about 10% or 65k?
    3. if the option is now in the money? Is it the 10% or 65K + the amount thats in the money? So if its 5% in the money, then you need almost 15% or 100K to maintain the position

    margin maintenance requirements for short SPX options
    byu/Fun_Tea8162 inoptions



    Posted by Fun_Tea8162

    1 Comment

    1. OurNewestMember on

      Maybe try tws risk navigator to get a feel for the margin impact of various “what if” scenarios?

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