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Up to 500:1 Leverage · Negative Balance Protection

Leverage & Margin —
Trade More With
Less Capital

GBH Markets offers up to 500:1 leverage on major Forex pairs — allowing you to control large positions with a fraction of the full trade value. Understand how margin works, calculate your requirements instantly, and trade with confidence knowing negative balance protection covers all retail accounts.

⚖️Up to 500:1 leverage
🛡Negative balance protection
📊Margin call at 80%
🛑Stop-out at 50%
🧮Live margin calculator
Open Account Use Calculator
500:1
Max leverage (Forex)
0.2%
Min margin required
80%
Margin call level
50%
Stop-out level
Margin Calculator
Calculate the margin required to open a position at GBH Markets
Required Margin
$216.00
1 lot EUR/USD at 500:1 leverage · Price ~1.08
Position Value
$108,000
Margin %
0.20%
Pip Value (1 lot)
$10.00
Max Leverage
500:1
⚠ This calculator provides indicative values only. Actual margin may vary with live prices. Trading leveraged products carries significant risk of loss.
Up to 500:1 Leverage
Negative Balance Protection
Margin Call at 80%
Stop-Out at 50%
FSC Mauritius Regulated
Understanding Leverage

How Leverage Works —
The Basics

Leverage allows you to control a position larger than your deposited capital. At 500:1 leverage, you can control a $100,000 trade with just $200 in margin — a deposit of 0.2% of the full trade value.

Leverage amplifies both profits and losses. A 1% move in your favour on a 500:1 leveraged position generates a 500% return on your margin. The same 1% move against you results in a 500% loss of your margin — potentially wiping out the full deposit on that trade.

GBH Markets provides leverage as a tool for experienced traders. All retail accounts include negative balance protection — regardless of market conditions, you cannot lose more than your deposited balance. This is a critical safeguard for leveraged trading.

The margin is the portion of your capital set aside as a security deposit when you open a leveraged position. It is calculated as: Margin = (Lot Size × Contract Size × Price) ÷ Leverage.

500:1
Max Leverage
Forex majors
0.2%
Min Margin %
At 500:1 leverage
Free
Margin
Equity minus used margin
Full
NBP Protection
All retail accounts
Worked Examples

Leverage in Practice —
Real Scenarios

01
EUR/USD — 1 Lot at 500:1 (Winning Trade)
Account deposit
$1,000
Margin required
$216
Position value
$108,000
Price move
+50 pips
Profit
+$500
Return on margin
+231%
02
EUR/USD — 1 Lot at 500:1 (Losing Trade)
Account deposit
$1,000
Margin required
$216
Position value
$108,000
Price move
-50 pips
Loss
-$500
Remaining balance
$500
03
Gold (XAU/USD) — 1 Lot at 200:1
Gold price
$2,318/oz
Margin required
$1,159
Position value
$231,800
Price move
+$10/oz
Profit
+$1,000
Return on margin
+86%
Leverage by Asset Class

Maximum Leverage —
All Instruments

Leverage limits are set by instrument class and reflect the inherent volatility of each market. Leverage can be reduced below the maximum at any time — contact support or adjust in your client portal.

Asset Class / Instrument Max Leverage Min Margin % Leverage Visual Notes
Forex
Forex Majors (EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, AUD/USD, NZD/USD, USD/CHF, USD/CAD) 500:1 0.20%
Highest leverage available
Forex Minor & Cross Pairs (EUR/GBP, GBP/JPY, EUR/JPY etc.) 400:1 0.25%
Slightly lower due to wider spreads
MENA Pairs (USD/AED, USD/SAR, USD/EGP, USD/QAR, USD/KWD) 200:1 0.50%
Reflects managed exchange rate risk
Forex Exotic Pairs (USD/TRY, USD/ZAR, USD/MXN etc.) 50:1 2.00%
High volatility instruments
Commodities
Gold (XAU/USD), Silver (XAG/USD) 200:1 0.50%
Precious metals
WTI Crude Oil, Brent Crude Oil 100:1 1.00%
Energy markets
Natural Gas, Heating Oil 50:1 2.00%
High volatility energy
Platinum, Palladium 20:1 5.00%
Low liquidity metals
Indices
US, European & Asian Indices (US30, US500, GER40, UK100, JPN225 etc.) 100:1 1.00%
All major indices
Equities & Other
Stock CFDs (individual equities) 20:1 5.00%
Single-stock risk limits apply
Cryptocurrency CFDs (BTC, ETH, XRP etc.) 10:1 10.00%
Maximum capped — all tiers
Bonds & ETF CFDs 50:1 2.00%
Fixed income instruments

* Leverage may be temporarily reduced during major economic events (NFP, FOMC, central bank decisions) or during periods of extreme market volatility. GBH Markets reserves the right to adjust leverage with reasonable notice.

Margin Call & Stop-Out

Understanding the
Margin System

GBH Markets uses a tiered margin protection system — a margin call warning at 80% and an automatic stop-out at 50% — designed to protect your capital from total loss.

Margin Level Formula
Margin Level = (Equity ÷ Used Margin) × 100. Equity is your account balance plus or minus floating P&L on open positions. As losses accumulate, equity falls and your margin level percentage decreases.
Margin Call at 80%
When your margin level falls to 80%, you receive a margin call alert via platform notification and email. This is a warning — no positions are closed yet. You should either add funds or reduce positions immediately.
Stop-Out at 50%
When margin level reaches 50%, GBH Markets automatically closes your open positions — starting with the least profitable — until margin level rises above 50%. This is an automated server-side process, not dependent on your internet connection.
Negative Balance Protection
Even in fast-moving markets where prices gap beyond the stop-out level, GBH Markets' negative balance protection ensures your account cannot go below zero. Any negative balance is absorbed by GBH — you will never owe more than you deposited.
Margin Level — What Each Zone Means
200%+
Safe Zone — Full Trading Capacity
Your margin level is healthy. You have ample free margin to open new positions. Continue trading normally. Most professional traders aim to maintain margin levels above 200%.
100%
Caution — Monitor Closely
Your margin level has fallen below 100%. You may not be able to open new positions on some platforms. Consider reducing exposure or adding funds. Approaching margin call territory.
80%
⚠ Margin Call — Action Required
GBH Markets sends a margin call alert. No positions closed yet, but immediate action is required. Add funds via the client portal or close losing positions to restore margin level. Push notification + email alert sent.
50%
🛑 Stop-Out — Auto-Liquidation
Automatic liquidation of open positions from the most unprofitable first. Server-side process — happens regardless of your internet connection. Continues until margin level rises above 50%. Negative balance protection applies.
Example account at 72% margin level
0% 50% ←STOP 80% ←CALL 100% 200%+
⚠ THIS ACCOUNT IS APPROACHING MARGIN CALL
At 72% margin level — 8 percentage points from the 80% margin call trigger. Immediate monitoring recommended.
Negative Balance Protection

You Cannot Lose
More Than You Deposit

GBH Markets provides negative balance protection (NBP) on all retail client accounts. In the event that your account balance falls below zero — for example, due to a severe price gap during a major news event — GBH will reset the balance to zero. You will not owe GBH Markets any debt.

This protection is mandatory under GBH Markets' FSC Mauritius Investment Dealer licence requirements and applies to all retail account types: Standard, Pro, and Prime (including Islamic variants).

NBP is particularly important for leveraged trading because extreme market movements (such as currency pegs being removed, central bank decisions, or geopolitical events) can cause prices to gap far beyond stop-loss levels and automatic stop-out triggers.

Applies to all retail accounts — Standard, Pro, and Prime including Islamic variants
Covers gap risk — including major news events, weekend gaps, and circuit breakers
No debt to GBH — negative balances are written to zero; clients owe nothing
FSC Mauritius requirement — mandated under GBH's Investment Dealer licence terms
Automatic — no claim required — applied immediately when balance goes negative
Scenario: Extreme Market Gap Event Protected by GBH NBP
Account balance before event $2,000
Open position (1 lot EUR/USD) Long at 1.09000
Stop-loss order placed at 1.08500 (−50 pips)
Market gaps down to (central bank decision) 1.07500 (−150 pips)
Position closes at (slippage beyond SL) 1.07500 (−150 pips = −$1,500)
Stop-out triggered at (50% margin level) Account at −$200 (negative)
✓ Negative Balance Protection Applied Balance reset to $0
Without NBP, the client would owe GBH $200. With GBH's negative balance protection, the debt is absorbed by GBH and the client's balance is reset to zero. Maximum possible loss is limited to the initial $2,000 deposit.

Important: Negative balance protection does not prevent losses equal to your deposited funds. It only prevents losses exceeding your deposit. Proper risk management — including appropriate position sizing, stop-loss orders, and leverage control — remains the trader's responsibility.

Leverage Risk Awareness

Understand the Risks of
Trading with Leverage

Leverage is a powerful tool but carries significant risks. Every trader using leverage at GBH Markets should understand these risks before opening their first position.

Amplified Losses
Leverage amplifies losses by the same factor as it amplifies gains. At 500:1, a 0.2% adverse price move eliminates 100% of the margin on that position. Always use stop-loss orders and never risk more than you can afford to lose on any single trade.
Gap Risk & Slippage
In fast-moving markets, prices can "gap" — jumping from one level to another without trading at intermediate prices. Stop-loss orders may be filled significantly beyond the requested level. Gap risk is highest around major economic releases and over weekends.
Overnight & Weekend Risk
Positions held overnight accumulate swap charges (except on Islamic accounts) and are exposed to price gaps when markets reopen. Weekend positions in Forex and metals can gap significantly on Sunday open. Consider position size carefully before leaving trades open over the weekend.
Margin Management
Monitor your margin level actively — especially when holding multiple open positions. A series of small adverse moves across several positions can deplete margin faster than a single large move on one position. Maintain a margin level well above 100% as a general rule.
Choosing Appropriate Leverage
Higher leverage is not always better. Many professional traders use leverage of 10:1 to 50:1 even when 500:1 is available — preserving more margin buffer and reducing the impact of adverse moves. Match your leverage to your account size, risk tolerance, and strategy.
Retail Investor Loss Rates
The majority of retail traders who trade CFDs lose money. This is primarily due to leverage misuse, poor risk management, and trading without adequate education. GBH Markets encourages all clients to use the free demo account, complete our Trading Academy, and paper-trade before going live.

⚠ Risk Warning

Trading Forex, CFDs, and other leveraged financial instruments involves a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to trade, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. You should be aware of all the risks associated with trading leveraged products and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any doubts.

FAQ

Leverage & Margin Questions

What is the maximum leverage at GBH Markets?
GBH Markets offers up to 500:1 leverage on major Forex pairs (EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, AUD/USD, NZD/USD, USD/CHF, USD/CAD). Leverage varies by asset class: MENA pairs 200:1, Gold 200:1, Oil and indices 100:1, stock CFDs 20:1, and crypto CFDs 10:1. Maximum leverage applies identically across Standard, Pro, and Prime accounts.
How is the required margin calculated?
Margin = (Lot Size × Contract Size × Price) ÷ Leverage. For example: 1 lot EUR/USD at 500:1 leverage with a price of 1.0800 = (1 × 100,000 × 1.0800) ÷ 500 = $216 required margin. Use our Margin Calculator at the top of this page to calculate any instrument and lot size instantly. Margin requirements update in real time as prices change.
Can I change my leverage level?
Yes. You can request a leverage reduction at any time by contacting support@gbhfx.com or through the client portal. You can reduce your leverage to any level below the maximum (e.g., request 100:1 on an account that has 500:1 available). Leverage increases above the published maximum are not available. Changes apply to new positions opened after the change; existing open positions may not be immediately affected.
What happens at the margin call level?
When your margin level (Equity ÷ Used Margin × 100) falls to 80%, GBH Markets sends a margin call notification via platform alert and email. No positions are closed at this stage — it is a warning only. You have two options: (1) deposit additional funds to increase equity, or (2) close some or all positions to reduce used margin. If you take no action and margin level continues to fall to 50%, the automatic stop-out process begins.
What is the stop-out process?
When margin level reaches 50%, GBH Markets' server automatically closes positions, starting with the most unprofitable open position first. After each closure, margin level is recalculated. If it rises above 50% after closing one position, no further positions are closed. If it remains below 50%, the next most unprofitable position is closed, and so on. This process is fully automated and does not require your internet connection to trigger.
Does negative balance protection apply to all accounts?
Yes. Negative balance protection applies to all GBH Markets retail accounts — Standard, Pro, and Prime — including all Islamic (swap-free) variants. In the event your account balance goes below zero due to extreme market conditions (price gaps, slippage beyond stop-out), GBH Markets absorbs the negative balance and resets your account to zero. You will never owe GBH Markets a debt exceeding your deposited funds.
Is leverage the same on Islamic accounts?
Yes. Leverage levels, margin requirements, margin call levels (80%), and stop-out levels (50%) are identical on Islamic (swap-free) accounts versus their non-Islamic equivalents. The only difference on Islamic accounts is the removal of overnight swap charges. All other trading conditions — including leverage — remain unchanged.
How much leverage should I use?
There is no universal correct answer — it depends on your account size, strategy, and risk tolerance. A commonly cited professional guideline is to risk no more than 1–2% of your account balance per trade. At 500:1 leverage, even a tiny price move results in large relative losses on the margin — most experienced traders use far less than the maximum available. Many risk management frameworks suggest limiting effective leverage (total position value ÷ account balance) to 10:1 to 20:1 regardless of available leverage.
Trade with Confidence at GBH Markets

Up to 500:1 leverage, negative balance protection, transparent margin requirements, and real-time risk monitoring tools. Open your account and start trading with the MENA region's most trusted FSC-regulated broker.

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