Definitions for "Maintenance Requirement"
The minimum amount of equity that must be maintained in a margin account at all times. The Federal Reserve Board has rules governing maintenance requirements. In addition, stock exchanges and brokers have the right to establish supplemental maintenance requirements.
The equity level that must be maintained in a margin account, as required by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and individual brokerage firms.
Is the level of margin necessary to support open positions given adverse price movements. If the maintenance level is violated, a variation call is issued which would be equal to the amount to restore an account to the initial margin level.