Your MT5 or PXTrader 2.0 account operates under two types of margin requirements depending on the time of day: Standard Margin Requirements (SMR) and Higher Margin Requirements (HMR).
Margin Modes Overview
Standard Margin Requirements (SMR)
This is the default mode during normal trading hours. Margin is calculated based on the standard leverage applied to your account type.
Higher Margin Requirements (HMR)
Margin requirements are increased meaning that your leverage is reduced. Applies only to positions opened (or exposure changed) during a specific time window for certain instruments.
When Does HMR Apply?
Due to session breaks:
Market | Monday - Thursday | Friday to Sunday | Margin Multiplier in MT5 | Max Leverage in PXTrader 2.0 |
XAU, XAG | 15 min before market close, up to 2 minutes after the market reopens | 1 hour before market close, up to 2 minutes after the market reopens | Margin x10 | 100 |
CRUDE, BRENT | 15 min before market close, up to 2 minutes after the market reopens | 3 hour before market close, up to 2 minutes after the market reopens | Margin x10 | 20 |
GASOIL | - | 1 hour before market close, up to 2 minutes after the market reopens | Margin x10 | 10 |
US30, US500, USTEC | - | 1 hour before market close, up to 2 minutes after the market reopens | Margin x10 | 100 |
FOREX | - | 1 hour before market close, up to 2 minutes after the market reopens | Margin x10 | 100 |
Due to economic events: 5 minutes before and 1 minute after economic events like Interest Rate decisions, Consumer Price Index, Non-Farm Payrolls, etc.
***Note: This timeframe may change.***
Positions opened before the HMR window → remain on standard margin (SMR)
Positions opened during HMR → subject to higher margin
⚠️ Note: MT5 will still display standard margin values — the increase is applied in the background.
⚠️ Note: In PXTrader 2.0 high margin requirements will be applied immediately to all LIMIT pending orders once the HMR time starts. If there is not enough margin to maintain such LIMIT orders, they will be removed with the reason message - 'Rejected'.
Example
If a trade normally requires $1,000 margin:
During SMR → you need $1,000 (with leverage 1:1000)
During HMR → you need $10,000 (with max leverage 1:100 or Margin Multiplier x10)
Once the HMR window ends, margin returns to normal.
Unlocking Positions During HMR
When you unlock (partially or fully close one side of a hedge) during the HMR window, the effect depends on whether your market exposure increases or decreases.
1 lot of XAU/USD in MT5 = 100 oz
Case A: Unlocking Increases Exposure (Higher Risk)
Before unlocking:
Buy 1 lot + Sell 3 lots (XAU/USD)
Locked amount: 1 lot
Net exposure: Sell 2 lots
Margin: Calculated normally on 2 lots
Action: You close the Buy 1 lot position during the HMR window.
After unlocking:
Remaining position: Sell 3 lots
Net exposure: Sell 3 lots (increased by 1 lot)
New exposure created: 1 lot
What happens:
The additional 1 lot is treated as new exposure
HMR applies → on that 1 lot only
Existing 2 lots remain on standard margin
If 1 lot normally requires $500 margin (with leverage 1:1000), the newly exposed 1 lot will require $5,000 (with max leverage 1:100 or Margin Multiplier x10) during HMR.
Case B: Unlocking Decreases Exposure (Lower Risk)
Before unlocking:
Buy 1 lot + Sell 3 lots (XAU/USD)
Net exposure: Sell 2 lots
Margin: Standard margin applied
Action: You close 1 lot from the Sell position during the HMR window.
After unlocking:
Remaining position: Buy 1 lot + Sell 2 lots
Net exposure: Sell 1 lot (reduced from 2 lots)
What happens:
Your exposure is reduced.
In MT5 Margin is released proportionally; In PXTrader 2.0 the Standard Margin is released first.
No HMR penalty applies.
MT5: When the total margin for 2 lots is $5,500 (1 lot opened under SMR at $500 + 1 lot opened under HMR at $5,000), closing 1 lot releases $2,750 back to free margin.
PXTrader 2.0: When the total margin for 200 oz of XAUUSD is $5,500 (1 lot opened under SMR at $500 + 1 lot opened under HMR at $5,000), closing 1 lot releases only $500 back to free margin.
Withdrawals During HMR
Higher Margin Requirements affect not only the margin needed to open and hold positions, but also how much money you can withdraw from your account.
Key Rule
While an HMR window is active, available withdrawable funds are recalculated using HMR margin for all open positions — including positions that were opened earlier under Standard Margin Requirements (SMR).
For trading account margin level, stop out and margin release, a position opened before the HMR window keeps its standard margin. For the withdrawal calculation only, every open position is re-valued at the higher HMR rate.
The practical result: your withdrawable balance temporarily drops when an HMR window opens, even if you have not traded at all during that window.
How It Is Calculated
Outside HMR:
Withdrawable funds = Equity − Bonus − Margin (calculated at SMR rates)
During HMR:
Withdrawable funds = Equity − Bonus − Margin (recalculated at HMR rates for all open positions)
The difference between the two figures is temporarily locked and becomes available again as soon as the HMR window closes.
Example
Setup
Instrument: XAUUSD (1 lot = 100 oz)
Account equity: $20,000
SMR margin: $500 per lot (leverage 1:1000)
HMR margin: $5,000 per lot (Margin Multiplier x10 / max leverage 1:100)
Step 1 — Before the HMR window (SMR in effect)
The trader opens 2 lots of XAUUSD.
Used margin: 2 × $500 = $1,000
Free margin: $20,000 − $1,000 = $19,000
Withdrawable funds: $19,000
Step 2 — HMR window starts
The position stays open and is not re-margined for stop-out purposes — it was opened under SMR, so it continues to hold $1,000 of used margin. However, the withdrawable amount is recalculated at HMR rates:
Hypothetical HMR margin: 2 × $5,000 = $10,000
Withdrawable funds: $20,000 − $10,000 = $10,000
Temporarily locked: $9,000
If the trader now requests a withdrawal of $15,000, the request will not be processed, even though $19,000 appeared to be available a few minutes earlier. Only up to $10,000 can be withdrawn while the window is open.
Step 3 — HMR window ends
Margin calculation reverts to SMR
Withdrawable funds: back to $19,000
Summary
Time | Used margin (for stop out) | Margin used in withdrawal calculation | Withdrawable funds |
Before HMR (SMR) | $1,000 | $1,000 | $19,000 |
During HMR | $1,000 (unchanged) | $10,000 | $10,000 |
After HMR | $1,000 | $1,000 | $19,000 |
If you encounter any issues, please contact our support team for assistance. You can also review our T&Cs.