IUX maximum leverage under its HMR policy.

IUX maximum leverage under its HMR policy.

IUX advertises maximum leverage of 1:3000 on its Standard, Raw and Pro accounts. Its Help Center adds the important qualifier: up to 1:3000 "under normal market conditions, depending on the client's account type, trading volume, and financial instruments". At several points each day and week, its Higher Margin Requirement (HMR) policy lowers the ceiling sharply.

IUX also says it can change leverage on client accounts, up or down, without notice, and that any leverage change recalculates the margin on all open positions. That is the part to plan around.

Maximum leverage1:3000 in normal conditions
HMR ceiling1:400 for FX majors, minors and gold
News window15 minutes before to 5 minutes after
Market close2 hours before close to 1 hour after open
Rollover21:45 to 23:45 UTC
Change leverageTrading Accounts > three dots > Change Leverage

What 1:3000 means

Leverage sets how much margin you need. At 1:3000, one standard lot of EURUSD worth about $100,000 needs roughly $33 of margin. The same trade needs about $250 at 1:400, and about $1,000 at 1:100. Leverage doesn't change your profit or loss per pip; it only changes how much of your balance is locked up, and so how close you are to a stop out.

LeverageMargin for 1 lot (~$100,000)Margin for 0.1 lot
1:3000About $33$3.30
1:1000About $100$10
1:400About $250$25
1:100About $1,000$100

The HMR periods

IUX's HMR policy defines three main windows. During each, the maximum leverage for new trades drops to no more than 1:400, and lower for many instruments:

  • News period: from 15 minutes before a scheduled high-impact release until 5 minutes after it.
  • Market close period: from 2 hours before markets close for the weekend or a public holiday until 1 hour after they reopen.
  • Rollover period: 21:45 to 23:45 UTC, when liquidity is thin.

HMR normally applies to new orders only. IUX reserves the right to apply it to existing positions on some instruments during the market close and rollover periods, which means the margin on trades you already hold can rise.

Caps by instrument

InstrumentsMaximum leverage in HMR
Major and minor FX pairs, XAUUSD1:400 (news and market close)
Silver and other gold crosses1:200 in news; 1:400 at close and rollover
Major indices (S&P500, US30, USTEC, DE30, UK100)1:200
Minor indices (AUS200, FR40, HK50, STOXX50)1:100
Oil (USOIL, UKOIL)1:100
BTCUSD and ETHUSD1:100 in news; 1:400 at close and rollover
Other crypto (ADA, SOL, LTC, BNB and more)1:50 in news; 1:400 at close and rollover
Stock CFDs1:20
Thematic indices1:5 (1:2 for thematic minors)

During rollover, IUX also limits FX majors, minors and precious metals to 1:1000 for new and existing positions. Before the pre-market break on indices, it caps major indices at 1:200, minor indices at 1:100 and thematic minors at 1:5, starting an hour before the break.

If IUX lowers leverage on a position you already hold, the margin required rises at once. A trade that was safe at 1:3000 can hit the 20% stop out under a 1:400 cap with no price move at all.

How to change your leverage

  1. Sign in to the client dashboard.
  2. Click the Profile icon and go to Trading Accounts.
  3. Choose the account card, click the three dots and select Change Leverage.
  4. Pick the new ratio and click Confirm.

IUX says changes usually take effect at once, but approval depends on your free margin at the time. Lowering leverage with open trades increases the margin they need; make sure your equity can cover it, or you risk a stop out.

Why your leverage may differ from someone else's

IUX's Help Center lists five reasons leverage varies between traders: the broker's risk policy, the account type, regulation in the client's region, the instrument's liquidity and volatility, and the requirements of IUX's liquidity providers. Its HMR policy also says the 1:3000 maximum depends on your trading volume as well as the account and instrument.

Choosing a sensible level

High leverage is a tool for using less margin, not a reason to trade bigger. Decide your position size from the risk you'll accept per trade, set a stop loss, and then use leverage that keeps your margin level comfortably above IUX's 40% margin call. Many experienced traders run well below the maximum precisely because of HMR changes. Our IUX stop out guide shows how margin level is calculated.

When you can't open a trade

IUX's Help Center explains a common surprise: money in your balance doesn't always mean you can open another order. What matters is free margin, which depends on your leverage, the instrument's price, your lot size and the margin already tied up in open positions. A cut in leverage under the HMR policy reduces free margin instantly.

IUX's fixes are practical: reduce the lot size, close some positions to release margin, review your leverage setting, and avoid opening large positions in volatile periods, when margin requirements can change quickly.

Leverage is set per trading account, so you can run different levels side by side. Some traders keep a high-leverage Raw account for small intraday positions and a lower-leverage Pro account for trades held longer. Each account card shows its current setting under Trading Accounts.

The 1:3000 figure gets the attention, but IUX's HMR schedule is what decides your margin around news and weekends. Size every trade as if you were on 1:400, and the policy will never surprise you.
Abir KhanWriter, FX Recap
Illustrative case: Vikram, 33, Bengaluru

Vikram held 2 lots of EURUSD into a Friday afternoon on a $500 account at 1:3000. When the market close HMR window started two hours before the weekend, margin on the position rose toward the 1:400 level. He cut the trade to 0.5 lots beforehand, keeping his margin level well above 100%.

Frequently asked

What is the maximum leverage at IUX?

Up to 1:3000 on Standard, Raw and Pro accounts under normal market conditions, depending on the account, trading volume and instrument.

What is IUX's HMR policy?

A Higher Margin Requirement policy that caps leverage at 1:400 or lower during news, market close and rollover periods, with lower caps for indices, oil, crypto, stocks and thematic indices.

When does IUX reduce leverage for news?

From 15 minutes before a scheduled high-impact news release until 5 minutes after it.

Does IUX change leverage on open trades?

HMR normally applies to new orders, but IUX can apply it to existing positions on some instruments during market close and rollover periods.

How do I change leverage at IUX?

In the client dashboard, go to Trading Accounts, click the three dots on the account card, choose Change Leverage and confirm. Approval depends on free margin.

What leverage does IUX give on stocks?

During HMR periods, stock CFDs are capped at 1:20.

What leverage does IUX give on Bitcoin?

BTCUSD and ETHUSD are capped at 1:100 during news and 1:400 at market close and rollover.

Can IUX change my leverage without notice?

Yes. IUX says it reserves the right to raise or lower leverage on client accounts without prior notice.

Why can't I open a trade on IUX when I have money in my account?

Usually because free margin is too low. It depends on leverage, price, lot size and margin already in use; reduce the lot size or close positions.

Can I set different leverage on each IUX account?

Yes. Leverage is chosen per trading account and changed from that account's card.