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What is Leverage in Stock Market?

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Using leverage in the stock market is a strong financial tool that allows a trader to borrow money in order to increase their exposure and potential upside. It also gives an investor the ability to buy and sell more securities than is possible using solely their own cash. However, leverage also increases potential losses should the value go the other way.

For anyone interested in making money with margin trades, derivatives, or leveraged products, it is essential to understand what leverage is in the stock market. This article explains how leverage operates, where you can find it, and the merits/drawbacks.

Leverage Meaning in Share Market

Leverage in the stock market is associated with derivatives, which are financial agreements whose value is based on an underlying asset, such as a stock or index. Options and futures, which are types of derivatives, allow traders to gain exposure to price movements without the need to actually purchase the asset.

For example, when a trader purchases a call option on a stock, they only have to pay a relatively low premium as opposed to the entire price of the stock. If the price of the stock goes up, the trader can earn substantially more than the premium that they paid for the option. That illustrates how leverage can provide the ability to control a larger position at a relatively small cost.

Traders who want to trade on leverage in the stock market will require a margin account, which they would establish with an approved stockbroker. The broker lends money based on the trader's capital, the type of security, and how volatile the market is. Traders also have to keep a set proportion of the overall trading value as a margin, which acts as security.

How Does Leverage Work in Stock Market?

Experts say that leverage in the stock market helps traders borrow money to get more exposure to the market than they have cash on hand. The trader's margin deposit is what the stockbroker uses to give them this borrowed money. For example, a trader can trade stocks worth ₹5 lakh if they put in ₹1 lakh and employ 5x leverage.

Profits are doubled by the leverage ratio when the price of the investment advances in the right direction. The same idea holds true for losses if the market goes against the trader's position. So, even though leverage in the stock market can help you make more money, it also makes you more likely to lose a lot of money.

Leverage in Stock Market Example

Let's say a trader wishes to buy 1,000 shares of a business that costs ₹1,000 each. The whole cost is ₹10 lakh, but the merchant only has ₹2 lakh. They borrow ₹8 lakh from their stockbroker and put down ₹2 lakh as margin (20%) to use leverage in the stock market.

This offers them 5 times the leverage, so they can buy ₹10 lakh worth of shares with just ₹2 lakh. The entire profit is ₹1 lakh (less interest and fees) if the share price goes up 10% to ₹1,100. The same investment would have made only ₹20,000 without leverage.

So, leverage in the stock market gives traders five times the exposure and five times the reward, but it's just as risky if the price goes down.

Markets in Which Leverage Can Be Used

Leverage in the stock market is not limited to trading stocks. It can be found in other markets where derivative instruments are traded, including but not limited to:

1. Indices

Nifty 50 and Sensex are examples of indices that track a collection of large companies. Traders can use index futures or ETFs that provide exposure to changes in the broad market price, but do not require the trader to buy each stock in the index.

2. Foreign Exchange (Forex)

With leverage, individuals can have large positions in currencies with a small amount of capital. Forex can be very liquid and volatile, so those traders wishing to take advantage of small price variations usually use leverage.

3. Cryptocurrencies

Individuals also utilise leverage when they engage in cryptocurrency trading. Traders can purchase expensive coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum without having to pay the entire price if they use leverage, as it is also an option in the stock market. However, due to the high volatility of this market, leverage is very risky.

Benefits of Leverage in Stock Market

Leverage in the stock market gives traders who want to make more money and diversify their portfolios a lot of advantages. Some of the main benefits are:

  • More Exposure: Traders can use leverage to get up to 4–5 times their available cash, which lets them trade bigger positions.

  • Higher Profit Potential: Because of leverage, even tiny changes in the market can lead to big gains.

  • Diversification: Traders may simply diversify their portfolios because they can use leveraged trading on stocks, indices, forex, and crypto.

  • Access to High-Value Assets: Leverage lets investors with little money trade pricey securities that they wouldn't be able to buy otherwise.

It's important to note, though, that leverage can make both earnings and losses bigger. So, you need to be disciplined, knowledgeable, and good at managing risk if you want to use leverage in the stock market.

Conclusion

Leverage in the stock market is a powerful tactic that enables traders to use borrowed money to increase their exposure and possible gains. It is very important for margin trading, derivatives, and leveraged ETFs.

Leverage can help you make a lot of money, but it can also make you lose a lot of money. So, traders should employ leverage in the stock market carefully, with a good plan and strict risk management. Before employing leverage, you need to do your homework, know how the market moves, and have enough margin.

When used correctly, leverage in the stock market can help you make more money and build your portfolio.

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Published Date : 18 Nov 2025

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