Notice to Members
Notice No. 192
05/20/2004
Margin Rate Changes for Natural Gas Futures (NG), Henry Hub Swap Futures (NN), and Natural Gas e-miNY(sm) Futures (QG) Contracts
Effective Date: Friday, May 21, 2004 (close of business)
Futures Contracts: Natural Gas, Henry Hub Swap, and e-miNY Natural Gas Contracts
Contract Months: All Natural Gas Contract Months

NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on Natural Gas Futures (NG)
Tiers
Clearing Member /
Maintenance Margin
Member Customer
Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer
Initial Margin
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
1
$4,000
$3,500
$4,400
$3,850
$5,400
$4,725
2
$4,000
$3,000
$4,400
$3,300
$5,400
$4,050
3
$4,000
$3,000
$4,400
$3,300
$5,400
$4,050
4
$4,000
$3,000
$4,400
$3,300
$5,400
$4,050
5
$2,000
$2,000
$2,200
$2,200
$2,700
$2,700
6
$1,500
$1,500
$1,650
$1,650
$2,025
$2,025

NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on Henry Hub Swap Futures (NN)
Tiers
Clearing Member /
Maintenance Margin
Member Customer
Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer
Initial Margin
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
1
$1,000
$875
$1,100
$963
$1,350
$1,181
2
$1,000
$750
$1,100
$825
$1,350
$1,013
3
$1,000
$750
$1,100
$825
$1,350
$1,013
4
$1,000
$750
$1,100
$825
$1,350
$1,013
5
$500
$500
$550
$550
$675
$675
6
$375
$375
$413
$413
$506
$506

NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on Natural Gas e-miNY Futures (QG)
Tiers
Clearing Member /
Maintenance Margin
Member Customer
Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer
Initial Margin
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
1
$2,000
$1,750
$2,200
$1,925
$2,700
$2,363
2
$2,000
$1,500
$2,200
$1,650
$2,700
$2,025

NYMEX Division Intra-Commodity Spread Margins on Natural Gas Futures (NG)
Tiers
Clearing Member /
Maintenance Margin
Member Customer
Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer
Initial Margin
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
1
$1,000
$1,000
$1,100
$1,100
$1,350
$1,350
2
$1,000
$1,000
$1,100
$1,100
$1,350
$1,350
3
$1,000
$500
$1,100
$550
$1,350
$675
4
$1,500
$1,000
$1,650
$1,100
$2,025
$1,350
5
$100
$100
$110
$110
$135
$135
6
$100
$100
$110
$110
$135
$135

NYMEX Division Intra-Commodity Margins on Henry Hub Swap Futures (NN)
Tiers
Clearing Member /
Maintenance Margin
Member Customer
Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer
Initial Margin
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
1
$250
$250
$275
$275
$338
$338
2
$250
$250
$275
$275
$338
$338
3
$250
$125
$275
$138
$338
$169
4
$375
$250
$413
$275
$506
$338
5
$25
$25
$28
$28
$34
$34
6
$25
$25
$28
$28
$34
$34

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 5 will have its requirement (at the clearing member rates) calculated at $3,000 starting on Friday, May 21 2004.
One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $4,000)
=
$4,000
One Short Tier 5 NG (1 * $2,000)
=
-
$2,000
Net Scan Risk ($4,000-$2,000)
=
$2,000
Spread Rate (1* $1,000)
=
+
$1,000
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 margin rate for Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swap, and Natural Gas e-miNY Futures contracts.
Should you have any questions or require any further information, please contact exchangeinfo@nymex.com