Can I change the leverage on my trading account?

No. You choose the leverage when you open a trading account, and the client portal cannot change it afterwards. To trade with a different leverage, open a new trading account and choose the leverage you want. Opening an account is free.

You choose leverage when you open the account

Leverage is set separately for each trading account. You choose it in the Open trading account window, when you create the account.

• JAFX offers leverage up to 1:500.
• The Leverage field starts on 1:500, or on the highest leverage offered. Check it before you click Open account.
• The portal has no option to change the leverage of an account you already have.

The window explains: "Leverage multiplies the size of your trades, and with it your gains and losses. Lower leverage is safer while you learn."

Getting a different leverage: open a new account

1. Sign in at app.jafx.com.
2. Click Accounts in the menu at the top of the page. This opens the Trading accounts page.
3. Click New account. The Open trading account window opens on the Live account tab.
4. Choose a Base currency. You can only pick a currency your wallet holds money in.
5. Choose the Leverage you want.
6. Click Open account.

You see: "Your trading account is open and the login details are on their way by email." The new account has its own Login number and trading password.

To fund it, move money from your wallet into the new account. If your money is in the old trading account, transfer it back to your wallet first, then on to the new account. Transfers in the same currency are free. See How to transfer funds between your wallet and trading accounts.

Account limits apply. You can hold up to 5 active live trading accounts at a time. You can open up to 10 yourself in total, and accounts you have since closed count towards the 10. See How many trading accounts can I open?

If you no longer need the old account, you can close it yourself. Closing is permanent. The Close button is shown only if you have more than one open trading account. If you are an affiliate, it is not shown on the account marked PRIMARY. See How to close a trading account.

For the full steps and the messages you may see, see How to open a live trading account.

Asking support about a change

You can contact our support team about the leverage on an existing account. You get a response within 24 hours. If it will take longer, we tell you. We cannot promise that the leverage will be changed. Opening a new account is the quickest way to trade with a different leverage.

To ask:

• Use live chat: click the Chat button in the client portal to reach a real person, 24/7.
• Or email support@jafx.com from your registered email address.

Tell us the account's Login number and the leverage you would like. We will never ask for your password, a 2FA code or a one-time code. See How do I contact JAFX support?

Where to see an account's leverage

• Client portal: on the Trading accounts page, each account card shows Leverage and the account's Login number.
• JAFX Terminal: at terminal.jafx.com, the account's leverage is shown as "Lev 1:N", for example "Lev 1:500".

The account's leverage applies to forex and metals. Other markets use their own margin, whatever the account's leverage. You can check a market's margin in its Specification window in the JAFX Terminal (the ⓘ button, when you are logged in). See Instruments, leverage, contract sizes, lot sizes and market hours.

Leverage and risk

Higher leverage lets you open larger trades with the same money, so your gains and your losses are larger.

• Margin call is at a margin level of 100%. At that level you cannot open new positions.
• Stop-out is at a margin level of 70%. At that level your positions are closed automatically.
• JAFX has negative balance protection across all your accounts. If the total balance across your JAFX accounts goes below zero, JAFX does not ask you to pay the shortfall. You can still lose all the money you deposit.

JAFX does not give advice or make recommendations, so we cannot tell you which leverage to choose. See Margin, margin call, stop-out and risk terms.

Trading leveraged derivatives with JAFX carries a high risk of losing money rapidly. It is not suitable for everyone.

We are available 24/7 via live chat or email.