<h2>What is Option Margin?</h2>
<p>Option margin, also known as option collateral, is the amount of money required to be set aside in a trading account to cover potential losses from trading options. It is a key concept in risk management, especially for traders using platforms like MetaTrader 5 at STB Provider.</p>

<h2>How It Works</h2>
<p>Option margin is calculated based on the <strong>option's delta</strong>, which measures how much the option price changes for every $1 change in the underlying asset's price. Here's a simplified breakdown:</p>
<ul>
  <li>For <strong>calls</strong>, the margin required is the option's delta multiplied by the strike price.</li>
  <li>For <strong>puts</strong>, the margin required is the option's delta multiplied by the difference between the underlying asset's current price and the strike price.</li>
</ul>
<p>For example, if you buy a call option with a delta of 0.5 and a strike price of $100, you would need to set aside $50 (0.5 * $100) as option margin.</p>

<h2>Why It Matters for Traders</h2>
<p>Option margin is crucial for traders for several reasons:</p>
<ul>
  <li>It <strong>limits risk</strong> by ensuring traders have enough capital to cover potential losses.</li>
  <li>It <strong>prevents forced liquidations</strong> due to insufficient funds, which can lead to significant losses.</li>
  <li>It <strong>enables traders to trade with less capital</strong> than they would need to trade the underlying asset outright.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Example</h2>
<p>Let's say you're trading Apple Inc. (AAPL) options on MetaTrader 5 at STB Provider. You buy an AAPL call option with a delta of 0.6 and a strike price of $150. The option margin required would be $90 (0.6 * $150).</p>

<h2>Key Takeaways</h2>
<ul>
  <li>Option margin is the capital set aside to cover potential losses from trading options.</li>
  <li>It is calculated based on the option's delta and the underlying asset's price.</li>
  <li>It is a vital risk management tool for option traders.</li>
  <li>Traders should understand and monitor their option margin to avoid margin calls and forced liquidations.</li>
</ul>