Buy To Cover


Buy To Cover

To buy a security one has previously sold short in order to close a position. In order to make a profit on a short cover, one must buy the security at a price lower than the price at which one short sold it. Likewise, one may buy to cover to avoid or pay a margin call, if it appears that one will lose in a short sale and the brokerage demands the return of cash or securities. See also: Maintenance margin.