Client margin debt ticked up a little in September, according to data from the Investment Dealers Association of Canada.

The IDA says that outstanding debt in client margin accounts rose to $7.07 billion at the end of September, up a little from $6.9 billion at the end of August. While this is not a huge increase, it does mark the first time that it has crossed the $7 billion mark in 2003.

In 2002, margin debt exceeded the $7 billion level in 10 of 12 months. Still, client borrowing remains far from its $11.9 billion high, which occurred at the market top back in September 2000.