Maintenance Margin
a.k.a. Minimum margin
The minimum amount of equity you must keep in your account to hold a leveraged position open.
When you open a leveraged trade, the broker locks up an initial deposit, your margin. Maintenance margin is the lower line you must not fall below while the trade is open. It is the floor of the trapdoor.
If losses drag your account equity under that line, you get a margin call: top up, or the broker starts closing your trades for you, usually at the worst moment. Every broker and futures exchange sets its own level, so read the fine print before you find out the hard way.
Opening a position so big that a normal day's wiggle is enough to push you below maintenance margin.
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