Notice to Members
Notice No. 468
10/06/2005
Margin Rate Changes for Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swap Futures, Natural Gas e-miNY Futures (QG), Henry Hub Swing Swap Futures, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts
Effective Date: Friday, October 7, 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: Tiers 1and 2

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
$13,000
$16,000
$14,300
$17,600
$17,550
$21,600
2
$14,000
$15,000
$15,400
$16,500
$18,900
$20,250
3
$14,500
$14,500
$15,950
$15,950
$19,575
$19,575
4
$14,000
$14,000
$15,400
$15,400
$18,900
$18,900
5
$5,750
$5,750
$6,325
$6,325
$7,763
$7,763
6
$3,250
$3,250
$3,575
$3,575
$4,388
$4,388
7
$3,000
$3,000
$3,300
$3,300
$4,050
$4,050
8
$2,000
$2,000
$2,200
$2,200
$2,700
$2,700
9
$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
$3,250
$4,000
$3,575
$4,400
$4,388
$5,400
2
$3,500
$3,750
$3,850
$4,125
$4,725
$5,063
3
$3,625
$3,625
$3,988
$3,988
$4,894
$4,894
4
$3,500
$3,500
$3,850
$3,850
$4,725
$4,725
5
$1,438
$1,438
$1,581
$1,581
$1,941
$1,941
6
$813
$813
$894
$894
$1,097
$1,097
7
$750
$750
$825
$825
$1,013
$1,013
8
$500
$500
$550
$550
$675
$675
9
$375
$375
$413
$413
$506
$506


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
$6,500
$8,000
$7,150
$8,800
$8,775
$10,800
2
$7,000
$7,500
$7,700
$8,250
$9,450
$10,125


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
$3,250
$4,000
$3,575
$4,400
$4,388
$5,400


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
$3,250
$4,000
$3,575
$4,400
$4,388
$5,400
2
$3,500
$3,750
$3,850
$4,125
$4,725
$5,063
3
$3,625
$3,625
$3,988
$3,988
$4,894
$4,894
4
$3,500
$3,500
$3,850
$3,850
$4,725
$4,725
5
$1,438
$1,438
$1,581
$1,581
$1,941
$1,941
6
$813
$813
$894
$894
$1,097
$1,097
7
$750
$750
$825
$825
$1,013
$1,013
8
$500
$500
$550
$550
$675
$675
9
$375
$375
$413
$413
$506
$506


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 $8,250 starting on Friday, October 7, 2005.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $13,000) =
$13,000
One Short Tier 5 NG (1 * $ 5,750) =
$5,750
Net Scan Risk ($13,000-$5,750) =
$7,250
Spread Rate (1* $ 1000) = +
$1,000
Total Requirement   =
$8,250


Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin):
$8,250
Member Customer (Initial Margin):
$9,075
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin):
$11,138

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