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Institutional Over-Leverage

Definition

Institutional over-leverage means that large financial entities have taken on too much debt relative to their capital. This condition describes a situation where institutional investors or firms utilize an excessive amount of borrowed capital to finance their investments, significantly amplifying their exposure to market fluctuations. While leverage can boost returns, over-leverage substantially increases insolvency risk, especially during periods of market downturns or liquidity crunches. It can lead to forced liquidations and cascading market instability.