What can I do to reduce my margin debit balance?

When an account is in a margin deficit, any open position can be liquidated by IBKR to return the account to margin compliance, including currency positions. In addition, IBKR may act to convert non-base currency balances as described in the How can I close out the nominal FOREX positions in my account? …

If you see a cash balance other than your Base Currency in your account, this is likely the result of one of the following events:

• You performed a currency conversion. 
• You deposited funds denominated in a currency other than your Base Currency. …

Your account may list both short and long balances as a result of the following:

• You maintain balances in multiple currencies - the IBKR Universal account allows you to hold cash balances and positions denominated in multiple currencies. Account holders maintaining a margin account are eligible to purchase a security denominated in a particular currency and borrow the funds necessary to settle that transaction with a loan secured by cash and/or securities denominated in another currency. Similarly, with a margin account, one may initiate a withdrawal of fund in a currency other than that they hold, and secure that loan with funds denominated in another currency. Both of these are instances where the account holder may hold both a long and short balance may be eligible to earn interest on the long balance and will be obligated to pay interest on the short balance…

To reduce your Initial and Maintenance Margin requirements, you can take several actions:

1. Reduce or close concentrated positions:
   • Identify and consider closing or reducing positions that are highly concentrated in your portfolio…