Which of the following statements regarding a wheat futures contract with a maintenance margin of $$2,000$ and an initial margin of $$2,300$ is most accurate? Buying equities $($stocks$)$ on margin generally requires at least $50\%$ of the purchase price. A performance bond $($margin$)$ for a futures contract is generally what percent of the value of the contract?

The long position will benefit if the price of wheat falls.

A performance bond is required by only the short position.

Both the long and short positions are required to have $$2,300$ in their margin accounts at the beginning of each day.

The maintenance margin offers protection to both long and short positions against the risk of default.