The margin accounts described in the material primarily allow traders to what?

• A. Borrowing funds to purchase more securities than cash would permit.
• B. Lending money to other traders.
• C. Holding securities without any borrowing.
• D. Buying only government bonds.

Answer: (A)

Margin accounts expand a trader's buying power by letting them borrow funds from the broker to buy more securities than their cash balance would allow. You deposit cash or other securities as collateral, and the broker provides credit for part of the purchase. This leverage means you can control a larger position with a smaller upfront investment, though you pay interest on the borrowed amount and must meet maintenance margin requirements. If the market moves against you, your equity can drop, leading to a margin call or forced liquidation to bring the balance back up. While margin accounts can support short selling as well, their main idea is enabling purchases with borrowed funds, not simply lending to others, holding without borrowing, or being limited to government bonds.