Notice to Members
Notice No. 341
08/25/2003
Margin Rate Change for Unleaded Gasoline Futures, Gasoline Calendar Swap Futures Contracts, and Unleaded Gasoline / Crude Oil Crack Spreads
Effective Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2003 (close of business)
Futures Contracts: Unleaded Gasoline (HU), NY Harbor Gasoline Calendar Swap (MS), Unleaded Gasoline Crude Oil Crack Spread (UK)
Contract Months: September 03 Only For HU, August 03 Only For MS and UK
Rate Change:  

NYMEX Division Margins on Unleaded Gasoline Futures, New York Harbor Gasoline Calendar Swap,
and Unleaded Gasoline Crude Oil Crack Spread

 
Clearing Member /
Maintenance Margin
Member Customer
Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer
Initial Margin
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
HU
$5,000
$4,000
$5,500
$4,400
$6,750
$5,400
MS
$5,000
$4,000
$5,500
$4,400
$6,750
$5,400
UK
$2,625
$2,275
$2,888
$2,503
$3,544
$3,071

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 September HU leg (Tier 1) and one October HU leg (Tier 2) will have its requirement (at the clearing member rates) calculated at $3,000 starting on Tuesday August 26, 2003.

One Long Tier 1 HU (1 * $5,000)   =   $5,000
One Short Tier 2 HU (1 * $2,500)   = - $2,500
Net Scan Risk ($5,000-$2,500)   =   $2,500
Spread Rate (1* $500)   = + $500
Total Requirement = $3,000

Summary
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin):   $3,000
Member Customer (Initial Margin):   $3,300
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin):   $4,050

This notice supersedes all previous notices regarding outright margins for Unleaded Gasoline Futures, New York Harbor Gasoline Calendar Swap, and Unleaded Gasoline Crude Oil Crack Spread.
Should you have any questions or require any further information, please contact exchangeinfo@nymex.com