How Ironbeam Holding cost/ Margin works in Futures- MYM with example

User Case

Why You Don't Meet the Requirement

Margin requirements are based on Net Liquidation Value (NLV) (your cash balance plus/minus your unrealized gains or losses). 

In your scenario:

• Account Cash Balance: $1,750
• Current Unrealized Loss: -$600
• Your Current Equity (NLV): $1,150 ($1,750 - $600)
• Required Margin to Hold: $1,505
• Deficit: -$355 ($1,150 - $1,505) 

Because your account equity ($1,150) is less than the required overnight margin ($1,505), you are in a margin deficit. 

What Happens If You Keep It Open

If you attempt to hold this position past the daily close (4:00 PM CT) or into the weekend:

• Liquidation Risk: Ironbeam's risk desk may automatically liquidate your position to protect the account from further losses.
• Margin Call Fees: If you are not liquidated but enter a margin call state, Ironbeam typically charges a margin call fee (often around $50 or more depending on the platform/desk).
• Forced Closing: To avoid these issues, you must either close the position yourself before 3:45 PM CT or deposit at least $355 more immediately to bring your equity up to the $1,505 minimum. 

Key Terms for This Scenario

• Initial Margin ($1,505): The amount of equity needed to start holding overnight.
• Maintenance Margin: Usually slightly lower than the initial margin (e.g., ~$1,368). If your equity drops below this level while holding, you must deposit enough to get back up to the full Initial Margin ($1,505), not just back to the maintenance level

 

Micro E-mini Dow Jones (MYM) futures at Ironbeam, holding a position through the weekend or past the Friday market close requires the full Exchange (Overnight) Margin

MYM Margin Requirements (as of April 2026)

• Weekend/Friday Holding Margin: $1,505 per contract.
  • This is the standard Overnight/Exchange Margin required to carry a position past the 4:00 PM CT Friday close.
• Intraday (Day) Margin: $50 per contract.
  • This discounted rate applies only if you open and close the position within the same trading session (Sunday 5:00 PM – Friday 4:00 PM CT). 

Key Timing Rules

• Day Margin Window: Day margins are valid during all market hours except for the last 15 minutes before the daily market close (4:00 PM CT).
• Weekend Transition: To avoid being liquidated or charged for a margin call, you must either close your position before 3:45 PM CT on Friday or ensure your account has at least $1,505 per contract to cover the full exchange requirement for the weekend.
• Daily Halt: There is a daily one-hour trading halt from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM CT. Positions held through this halt are also subject to the higher exchange