Notice to Members
Notice No. 220
05/14/2003
Margin Rate Change for Natural Gas Futures (NG), Henry Hub Swap (NN), and Natural Gas e-miNY (QG) Contracts
Effective Date: Thursday May 15, 2003 (close of business)
Futures Contracts: Natural Gas, Henry Hub Swap, and e-miNY Natural Gas Contracts
Contract Months: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 NG and NN, and all QG Contract Months

NYMEX Division Outright Margins on Natural Gas Futures (NG)
 
Clearing Member
Member Customer
Non-Member Customer
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
Tier 1 (1st Nearby Month):
$5,000
$4,000
$5,500
$4,400
$6,750
$5,400
Tier 2 (2nd Nearby Month):
$5,000
$3,500
$5,500
$3,850
$6,750
$4,725
Tier 3 (3rd-6th Nearby Month):
$4,500
$3,500
$4,950
$3,850
$6,075
$4,725
Tier 4 (7th-12th Nearby Month):
$4,500
$2,500
$4,950
$2,750
$6,075
$3,375
Tier 5 (Greater than 12th Nearby):
$2,500
$2,500
$2,750
$2,750
$3,375
$3,375

NYMEX Division Outright Margins on Henry Hub Swap Futures (NN)
 
Clearing Member
Member Customer
Non-Member Customer
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
Tier 1 (1st Nearby Month):
$1,250
$1,000
$1,375
$1,100
$1,688
$1,350
Tier 2 (2nd Nearby Month):
$1,250
$875
$1,375
$963
$1,688
$1,181
Tier 3 (3rd-6th Nearby Month):
$1,125
$875
$1,238
$963
$1,519
$1,181
Tier 4 (7th-12th Nearby Month):
$1,125
$625
$1,238
$688
$1,519
$844
Tier 5 (Greater than 12th Nearby):
$625
$625
$688
$688
$844
$844

NYMEX Division Outright Margins for Natural Gas e-miNY Futures (QG)
 
Clearing Member
Member Customer
Non-Member Customer
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
Tier 1 (1st Nearby Month):
$2,000
$1,600
$2,200
$1,760
$2,700
$2,160
Tier 2 (2nd Nearby Month):
$2,000
$1,400
$2,200
$1,540
$2,700
$1,890

Current systems calculate the margin requirement for spread positions by first determining the "Scan Risk" and then multiplying the number of spreads by a rate set by the Exchange. Scan Risk is determined by netting the outright margin required for each leg of a spread. Spreading between differently margined contracts results in a higher spread margin than between equally margined contracts. Below is provided an example where the legs of a spread are margined differently.

Scan Risk Example at Clearing Member Rates
A spread consisting of one NG leg in Tier 2 and another in Tier 3 will have its requirement (at the clearing member rates) calculated at $1,500 starting on Thursday May 15, 2003.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $5,000)
=
$5,000
One Short Tier 2 NG (1 * $4,500)
=
-
$4,500
Net Scan Risk ($5,000-$4,500)
=
$500
Spread Rate (1* $1000)
=
+
$1,000
Total Requirement  
=
$1,500

Summary
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin): $1,500
Member Customer (Initial Margin): $1,650
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin): $2,025

This notice supersedes all previous notices regarding margins for the NYMEX Natural Gas, NYMEX Henry Hub Swap, and the e-miNY Natural Gas futures contracts.
Should you have any questions or require any further information, please contact exchangeinfo@nymex.com