Notice to Members
Notice No. 97
02/27/2003
Margin Rate Change for Natural Gas Futures (NG), Henry Hub Swap (NN), and Natural Gas e-miNY (QG) Contracts
Effective Date: Friday, February 28, 2003 (close of business)
Futures Contracts: Natural Gas, Henry Hub Swap, and e-miNY Natural Gas Contracts
Contract Months: Tier 1 NG, NN, and 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):
$11,000
$9,000
$12,100
$9,900
$14,850
$12,150
Tier 2 (2nd Nearby Month):
$9,000
$9,000
$9,900
$9,900
$12,150
$12,150
Tier 3 (3rd-6th Nearby Month):
$6,000
$6,000
$6,600
$6,600
$8,100
$8,100
Tier 4 (7th-12th Nearby Month):
$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

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):
$2,750
$2,250
$3,025
$2,475
$3,713
$3,038
Tier 2 (2nd Nearby Month):
$2,250
$2,250
$2,475
$2,475
$3,038
$3,038
Tier 3 (3rd-6th Nearby Month):
$1,500
$1,500
$1,650
$1,650
$2,025
$2,025
Tier 4 (7th-12th Nearby Month):
$625
$625
$688
$688
$844
$844
Tier 5 (Greater than 12th Nearby):
$625
$625
$688
$688
$844
$844

NYMEX Division Outright Margins on Natural Gas e-miNY Futures (QG)
 
Clearing Member
Member Customer
Non-Member Customer
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
Tier 1 (1st Nearby Month):
$4,400
$3,600
$4,840
$3,960
$5,940
$4,860
Tier 2 (2nd Nearby Month):
$3,600
$3,600
$3,960
$3,960
$4,860
$4,860

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 1 and another in Tier 4 will have its requirement (at the clearing member rates) calculated at $10,500 starting on Friday, February 28, 2003.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $11,000) =   $11,000
One Short Tier 4 NG (1 * $2,500) = - $2,500
Net Scan Risk ($11,000-$2,500) =   $8,500
Spread Rate (1* $2000) = + $2,000
Total Requirement   =   $10,500

Summary
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin): $10,500
Member Customer (Initial Margin): $11,550
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin): $14,175

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