Guides › Using the Platform
Reading Your Copy Trading Dashboard: What Every Number Means
Six numbers on one screen, and most people only watch the wrong one. Balance is the number everyone looks at. Margin level is the number that decides whether your positions get closed for you.
Balance and equity — the difference that matters
Balance is your account with all open trades ignored. It only changes when a trade closes.
Equity is your balance plus or minus everything currently open. It moves second by second.
When you have positions open, equity is the truth and balance is history. A balance of $1,000 with equity of $850 means you are $150 down right now on open trades — and it is equity, not balance, that margin calculations use.
Floating P&L
The running profit or loss on open positions. It is not yours until the trade closes — floating profit can disappear entirely, and floating loss can recover entirely.
This number causes more bad decisions than any other on the screen. Watching it minute by minute is how people talk themselves into closing a good position early and holding a bad one too long.
Want this checked against a specific broker before you deposit? That is what the companion site does, line by line.
See a worked exampleMargin and free margin
Margin is the portion of your funds held as collateral for open positions. It is not a fee — it is set aside and released when the position closes.
Free margin is what remains available. It is your buffer: the room your account has to absorb a move against you before anything is forced.
Margin level — the number that actually decides things
Margin level is equity divided by used margin, as a percentage. It is the health reading for the whole account.
| Margin level | What it means |
|---|---|
| Comfortably high | Plenty of buffer. Normal operating state. |
| Falling toward the margin call level | Warning zone. The broker may notify you. |
| At the stop-out level | Positions start being closed automatically, worst first, whether you agree or not. |
The exact thresholds are set by the broker — find yours in the account terms and know them before you need them. A stop-out closes positions at the worst possible moment by definition, because that is when it triggers.
Want this checked against a specific broker before you deposit? That is what the companion site does, line by line.
See a worked exampleWhat to actually watch, and how often
Daily is plenty. Hourly is counterproductive.
- Margin level — the only genuine danger signal on the screen.
- Equity trend over weeks — is the account going the right way across a meaningful period?
- Number of open positions — an unusual jump means the strategy has changed behaviour, which is worth understanding.
Floating P&L is the one to check least. It is the most emotionally charged number and the least informative.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my equity lower than my balance?
Because your open positions are currently at a loss. When they close, balance updates to match. The reverse is true when open positions are in profit.
What happens at a margin call?
It is a warning that your margin level has fallen to a set threshold. If it keeps falling to the stop-out level, the broker begins closing positions automatically to protect the account from going negative.
Should I add funds to avoid a stop-out?
Adding funds raises your margin level and buys room, but it also increases the amount at risk in a position that is already going against you. That is a decision to make deliberately, not in a panic.
Stuck on this step?
Send a screenshot of where you are. You will get told which button to press, not a sales pitch.
Ask me anythingEducational information only — not financial, legal or tax advice, and not an offer to trade. Opening an account through links on this site may earn the author a referral commission. Trading leveraged forex and CFDs carries a high risk of loss; the majority of retail investor accounts lose money. Rules differ by country and change over time: verify your own jurisdiction with your national regulator before trading.