Mark to Market
The daily revaluation of open derivative positions at the closing price, with gains and losses settled in cash.
Formula
Daily Mark-to-Market = (Today's Settlement Price - Yesterday's Settlement Price) x Lot Size x Number of Lots
Unit
₹
In depth
Mark to market means a futures loss is a real cash debit that evening, not an unrealised paper loss that can be ignored — this is the mechanism that makes derivatives require continuous funding. It is also what protects the clearing corporation, since losses are collected daily rather than allowed to accumulate until they exceed the margin. The practical consequence for a trader is that being right eventually is not enough: the position must be funded through every adverse day in between. A trader who cannot meet a mark-to-market call is closed out regardless of the eventual outcome.
Worked example
Long two Nifty lots at 24,000 and the index closes at 23,760. The mark-to-market debit that evening is (24,000 - 23,760) x 75 x 2 = ₹36,000, payable in cash whether or not the position is still held.
Illustrative figures, chosen so the arithmetic is easy to follow. Not a live price and not a valuation of any company.
Educational reference only
This entry explains what “Mark to Market” means. It is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any numbers above are illustrative, not live prices, and nothing here predicts price direction or rates a stock. Consider your own circumstances and consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser before acting.