Notice to Members
Notice No. 327
08/11/2005
Margin Rate and Tier Changes for Natural Gas, Henry Hub Swaps, e-miNY, Henry Hub Swing Swaps and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts
EFFECTIVE DATE: Friday, August 12, 2005(close of business)

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

CONTRACT MONTHS: All Months

NG/NN/NP Intra-Commodity Spread and Scan Tiers
 
Tiers
New
Old
1
1st Nearby
1st Nearby
2
2nd Nearby
2nd Nearby
3
3rd Nearby
3rd Nearby
4
4th - 7th Nearby
4th - 6th Nearby
5
8th - 19th Nearby
7th - 10thNearby
6
20th - 31st Nearby
11th - 20th Nearby
7
32nd - 52nd Nearby
21st - 31st Nearby
8
53rd - 64th Nearby
32nd - 43rd Nearby
9
Greater than 64th Nearby
Greater than 43rd Nearby


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
$5,500
$5,000
$6,050
$5,500
$7,425
$6,750
2
$5,750
$5,000
$6,325
$5,500
$7,763
$6,750
3
$6,000
$5,000
$6,600
$5,500
$8,100
$6,750
4
$6,250
$5,000
$6,875
$5,500
$8,438
$6,750
5
$4,000
$5,000
$4,400
$5,500
$5,400
$6,750
6
$3,250
$3,000
$3,575
$3,300
$4,388
$4,050
7
$3,000
$2,750
$3,300
$3,025
$4,050
$3,713
8
$2,000
$2,500
$2,200
$2,750
$2,700
$3,375
9
$1,500
$2,500
$1,650
$2,750
$2,025
$3,375


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
$1,375
$1,250
$1,513
$1,375
$1,856
$1,688
2
$1,438
$1,250
$1,581
$1,375
$1,941
$1,688
3
$1,500
$1,250
$1,650
$1,375
$2,025
$1,688
4
$1,563
$1,250
$1,719
$1,375
$2,109
$1,688
5
$1,000
$1,250
$1,100
$1,375
$1,350
$1,688
6
$813
$750
$894
$825
$1,097
$1,013
7
$750
$688
$825
$756
$1,013
$928
8
$500
$625
$550
$688
$675
$844
9
$375
$625
$413
$688
$506
$844


NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margin 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
$2,750
$2,500
$3,025
$2,750
$3,713
$3,375
2
$2,875
$2,500
$3,163
$2,750
$3,881
$3,375


NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margin on Henry Hub Swing Swap Futures (SN)
 
Tiers
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
1
$1,375
$1,250
$1,513
$1,375
$1,856
$1,688


NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margin on Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Futures (NP)
 
Tiers
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
1
$1,375
$1,250
$1,513
$1,375
$1,856
$1,688
2
$1,438
$1,250
$1,581
$1,375
$1,941
$1,688
3
$1,500
$1,250
$1,650
$1,375
$2,025
$1,688
4
$1,563
$1,250
$1,719
$1,375
$2,109
$1,688
5
$1,000
$1,250
$1,100
$1,375
$1,350
$1,688
6
$813
$750
$894
$825
$1,097
$1,013
7
$750
$688
$825
$756
$1,013
$928
8
$500
$625
$550
$688
$675
$844
9
$375
$625
$413
$688
$506
$844


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 $2,500 starting on Friday, August 11, 2005.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $5,500) = $5,500
One Short Tier 5 NG (1 * $4,000) = $4,000
Net Scan Risk ($5,500-$4,000) = $1,500
Spread Rate (1* $ 1000) = + $1,000
Total Requirement   = $2,500


Summary  
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin): $2,500
Member Customer (Initial Margin): $2,750
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin): $3,375


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