Margin Debt Slightly Increases In September

NYSE Margin debt rose a miniscule (relatively speaking) $800 million in September. It currently still sits just below the all-time high set back in February. The three month change of -$433 million is the smallest absolute change since the three month period ending in August 2010. Credit balances slightly increased so net margin debt dropped a bit in September. We are eager to see if there was a pronounced drop in margin debt in October as equity volatility slightly increased.