Notice to Members
Notice No. 452
11/30/2004
Margin Rate Changes for Natural Gas Futures (NG), Henry Hub Swap Futures (NN), and Natural Gas e-miNY Futures (QG) Contracts
EFFECTIVE DATE: Wednesday, December 1, 2004(close of business)

FUTURES CONTRACTS: Natural Gas, Henry Hub Swaps and e-miNY Natural Gas Contracts

CONTRACT MONTHS: All Months

Note: The revised margins are in bold.

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
$8,500
$7,500
$9,350
$8,250
$11,475
$10,125
2
$8,500
$7,500
$9,350
$8,250
$11,475
$10,125
3
$7,500
$7,250
$8,250
$7,975
$10,125
$9,788
4
$5,500
$7,000
$6,050
$7,700
$7,425
$9,450
5
$5,000
$6,500
$5,500
$7,150
$6,750
$8,775
6
$4,500
$4,000
$4,950
$4,400
$6,075
$5,400
7
$2,500
$3,000
$2,750
$3,300
$3,375
$4,050
8
$2,000
$1,500
$2,200
$1,650
$2,700
$2,025
9
$1,750
$1,000
$1,925
$1,100
$2,363
$1,350


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
$2,125
$1,875
$2,338
$2,063
$2,869
$2,531
2
$2,125
$1,875
$2,338
$2,063
$2,869
$2,531
3
$1,875
$1,813
$2,063
$1,994
$2,531
$2,447
4
$1,375
$1,750
$1,513
$1,925
$1,856
$2,363
5
$1,250
$1,625
$1,375
$1,788
$1,688
$2,194
6
$1,125
$1,000
$1,238
$1,100
$1,519
$1,350
7
$625
$750
$688
$825
$844
$1,013
8
$500
$375
$550
$413
$675
$506
9
$438
$250
$481
$275
$591
$338


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
$4,250
$3,750
$4,675
$4,125
$5,738
$5,063
2
$4,250
$3,750
$4,675
$4,125
$5,738
$5,063


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 $4,500 starting on Wednesday, December 1, 2004.


One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $8,500) = $8,500
One Short Tier 5 NG (1 * $5,000) = $5,000
Net Scan Risk ($8,500-$5,000) = $3,500
Spread Rate (1* $ 1000) = + $1,000
Total Requirement   = $4,500


Summary  
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin): $4,500
Member Customer (Initial Margin): $4,950
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin): $6,075


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