Brokers Reduce Leverage in Preparation for Brexit Vote

Brexit, the story that never dies, is having a real impact on brokers this week. A number of firms released statements this Monday, following on from the one Dukascopy made last Friday, indicating that they will be and preventing traders from opening new positions.
As reported by Finance Magnates at the end of last week, Dukascopy at 30:1 for a UK stock index that it has listed on its platform. The Swiss broker, who said that the restrictions will be lifted only when it believes Brexit-related volatility has died down, also put the leverage cap on two crude oil trading pairs.
This was followed on Monday by a similar change in margin requirements made by Saxo Bank’s Japanese branch. The company issued a statement in which it said it was increasing margin requirements for all major GBP currency pairs from 2.5 percent to 4 percent – in other words, bringing leverage caps down from 40:1 to 25:1.
Saxo Bank noted the rules would affect existing positions. Traders who currently open trades in GBP will have to make sure they have the requisite margin or risk having their position closed by Saxo Bank.
Brexit indices
Similar changes were made on Monday by FxPro. The broker said that, starting at 10:00 am on Monday morning, it would be increasing margin requirements to 2 percent for its European Union indices.
FxPro also said that it reserves the right, if need be, to prevent traders from opening positions in the wake of any Brexit announcement. Wider spreads, the broker added, are expected in the coming days.
More steps, akin to those above, are likely to be taken by brokers in the next 24 hours as they attempt to reduce the impact of any fallout from a Brexit vote. After the last big Brexit vote took place in June of 2016, there was that meant brokers struggled to meet their customers’ demands.