What Is a Blocked Period?

A blocked period refers to the length of time in which an investor’s securities are prevented from being accessed. A blocked period may be put in place if an investor has used a security as collateral, as it prevents the investor from using the same security as collateral ꦉor from﷽ selling the security. It may also refer to a period in which an investor cannot access account funds.

How a Blocked Period Works

Blocked periods denote periods where an investor cannot access their assets. Brokerages and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:financial institutions may place a hold on the securities in an investor’s account for several reasons. Reasons include the investor being labeled a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:day trader using a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:margin account, or the 🌟investor u෴sing a security as collateral in a trade.

Investors who trade frequently may be considered to be day traders by the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Securities and Exchange Commis🧜sion (SEC). This label may bring with it requirements for how much money must be available in the investor’s account at a particular point in time. A 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:pattern day trader label is given if an investor buys or sells stocks using a margin account more than a defined number of times during a week.

Brokerages may be required to block an account for a period if the account holder buys or shares securities without having sufficient capital to complete the trade, referred to as 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:freeriding. The specific regulation governing this is part of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Regulation T and specifically relates to cash accounts.

For novice traders, familiarizing oneself with these rules beforehan🐎d will make life a lot easier because a blocked period can come as𝔉 a surprise to those unaware of the rules/laws. A lot of these rules are in place to protect both the investor and the broker-dealer.

An Example of a Blocked Period

If an investor with a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:cash account tries to purchase shares with funds that have not yet been settled from a previous trade, the brokerage f﷽irm's compliance and trade monitoring department may🅷 issue a blocked period. The blocked period lasts 90 days.

During this time, the investor may make purchases, but only with completely settled funds. Investors can avoid this type of blocked period by trading on margin, though margin accounts are subject to other rules regarding 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:minimum balances.

If this investor has $5,000 in their cash account and decides to buy 100 shares of ABC for $50 per share, they transact the trade. If a day later they decide to sell the shares for $52 per share, they will be blocked because the funds have not had the chance to settle from the purchase when the investor sold it.

Generally speaking, U.S. equities clear T+2 days after the trade date for trades prior to May 28, 2024, and T+1 days thereafter. So, if the purchase of ABC happened on a Monday, the investor would not be able to sell that security until the settlement date of Wednesday at the earliest under the T+2 rule, or Tuesday under the T+1 rule.