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Set Margin Alerts

The Alerts window is composed of two sections. The first is the Conditions area, where you define the conditions which must be met to activate the alert. The second is the Actions area, where you define the action that will occur when the conditions are met. Create alerts based on price movement, time and date, trading volume or the state of your margin cushion. Alert actions include sending a notification such as a pop-up message on your trading screen, an email or a text message, or initiating an order, specifically a buy or sell order.

Margin Alerts

Margin alerts are based on the status of an IB-calculated "margin cushion" derived using current values from your account. You can find these values on the Account screen. The margin cushion is calculated as follows:

(Equity with Loan Value - Maintenance Margin)/Net Liquidation Value

To create a margin cushion alert

1. On the Analytical Tools menu select Alerts.
   • If you're already in the Alerts box, click the Alerts tab to gain access to the New button. Continue with Step 2 below.
2. Click the New button, and enter a descriptive title in the Name box. The <unnamed> tab takes the name you enter.
3. Define an asset in the Conditions area by dragging and dropping one from your trading screen, or click the Add button.
4. Begin to set the alert conditions by selecting Cushion in the Choose Condition section of the Create Condition box, then click Next.
5. In the Operator field, choose from "greater than or equal to" or "less than or equal to."
6. In the Cushion(%) field, enter a percent value that will be acted on by the operator defined above, and click the Finish button.
7. To define multiple conditions, select And or Or from the Logic drop-down list, and add another contract on the next line following the above steps 3 - 6.

You can now assign an action to an alert in the form of a message, order action, or audio notification.

Alerts Duration

By default, the alert will remain active until you cancel it. You can elect to have the alert remain active through a specific date and time by selecting Alert active until... and setting a date in the format YYYYMMDD hh:mm:ss.

If you want the condition(s) to be able to trigger outside regular trading hours, check the "Allow condition to be satisfied..." box.

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