Your Futures and Options (F&O) positions may have been squared off due to the following reasons:
1. Margin Shortfall: Stock Options and Futures require physical settlement upon expiry, which involves the actual delivery of shares based on the lot size. To comply with physical settlement regulations, brokers block higher margins during the last four working days before expiry:
- T-4 (4 days before expiry): 10% of the contract value
- T-3: 25%
- T-2: 45%
- T-1: 70%
- T (Expiry Day): 100%
If your funds are insufficient to meet these margin requirements, your positions are automatically squared off.
2. Expiry Rules: Any open position in index options is squared off on the expiry date based on whether it is in-the-money or out-of-the-money:
- In-the-Money Contracts: Settled as per the exchange's closing price.
- Out-of-the-Money Contracts: Expire worthlessly, resulting in the loss of the entire premium paid.