Notice to Members
Notice No. 92
02/24/2003
Margin Rate Changes for Henry Hub Swap, and Henry Hub Natural Gas and e-miNY Futures Contracts
Effective Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 (close of business)
Futures Contracts: Natural Gas (NG) Futures, Henry Hub Swap (NN) and all E-miNY Futures (QG)
Contract Months: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 Months


NYMEX Division Outright Margins on Henry Hub Natural Gas (NG) Futures Contracts
 
Clearing Member
Member Customer
Non-Member Customer
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
Tier 1 (1st Nearby):
$7,000
$5,000
$7,700
$5,500
$9,450
$6,750
Tier 2 (2nd Nearby):
$7,000
$4,500
$7,700
$4,950
$9,450
$6,075
Tier 3 (3rd- 6th Nearby Months)
$5,000
$3,500
$5,500
$3,850
$6,750
$4,725
Tier 4 (7th –12th Nearby Months)
$2,500
$2,500
$2,750
$2,750
$3,375
$3,375
Tier 5 (Greater Than 12th Nearby)
$2,500
$2,500
$2,750
$2,750
$3,375
$3,375

Because SPAN™ converts NN contracts into NG contracts for performance bond calculations, NN outright margins, inter-commodity spread margins, intra-commodity spread credits and spot month assessment are equivalent to NG, respectively, in a 4:1 ratio.


NYMEX Division Outright Margins on Henry Hub Swap (NN) Contracts
 
Clearing Member
Member Customer
Non-Member Customer
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
Tiers 1:
$1,750
$1,250
$1,925
$1,375
$2,363
$1,688
Tier 2:
$1,750
$1,125
$1,925
$1,238
$2,363
$1,519
Tier 3:
$1,250
$875
$1,375
$963
$1,688
$1,181
Tier 4:
$625
$625
$688
$688
$844
$844
Tier 5:
$625
$625
$688
$688
$844
$844

Because SPAN™ converts QM contracts into NG contracts for performance bond calculations, QM outright margins, inter-commodity spread margins, intra-commodity spread credits and spot month assessment are equivalent to NG, respectively, in a 5:2 ratio.

NYMEX Division Outright Margins on e-MINY Natural Gas (QG) Futures Contracts
 
Clearing Member
Member Customer
Non-Member Customer
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
All Months:
$2,800
$2,000
$3,080
$2,200
$3,780
$2,700


Scan Risk Example at Clearing Member Rates
A spread consisting of one futures leg in Tier 1 and another in Tier 4 will have its requirement (at the clearing member rates) calculated at $5,500 starting on Tuesday, February 25, 2003.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $7,000) =   $7,000
One Short Tier 4 NG (1 * $ 2,500) = - $2,500
Net Scan Risk ($7,000-$2,500) =   $4,500
Spread Rate (1* $500) = + $1,000
Total Requirement   =   $5,500


Scan Risk Example Summary

Margin on a Spread Between a Tier 1 and Tier 4 Futures Contract
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin):   $5,500
Member Customer (Initial Margin):   $6,050
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin):   $7,425

This notice supersedes all previous notices regarding outright and spread margins for the NYMEX Natural Gas (NG) futures contract, the NYMEX Henry Hub Swap (NN) futures contract, and the e-MINY Futures Contract.
Should you have any questions or require any further information, please contact exchangeinfo@nymex.com