Notice to Members
Notice No. 410
09/13/2005
Margin Rate Changes for Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swap Futures, Natural Gas e-miNY Futures, Henry Hub Swing Swap Futures, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts
Effective Date: Wednesday, September 14, 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 1, 2, and 3

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
$10,000
$12,500
$11,000
$13,750
$13,500
$16,875
2
$10,000
$12,000
$11,000
$13,200
$13,500
$16,200
3
$11,000
$12,000
$12,100
$13,200
$14,850
$16,200
4
$11,500
$11,500
$12,650
$12,650
$15,525
$15,525
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
$2,500
$3,125
$2,750
$3,438
$3,375
$4,219
2
$2,500
$3,000
$2,750
$3,300
$3,375
$4,050
3
$2,750
$3,000
$3,025
$3,300
$3,713
$4,050
4
$2,875
$2,875
$3,163
$3,163
$3,881
$3,881
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
$5,000
$6,250
$5,500
$6,875
$6,750
$8,438
2
$5,000
$6,000
$5,500
$6,600
$6,750
$8,100


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
$2,500
$3,125
$2,750
$3,438
$3,375
$4,219


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
$2,500
$3,125
$2,750
$3,438
$3,375
$4,219
2
$2,500
$3,000
$2,750
$3,300
$3,375
$4,050
3
$2,750
$3,000
$3,025
$3,300
$3,713
$4,050
4
$2,875
$2,875
$3,163
$3,163
$3,881
$3,881
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 $5,250 starting on Wednesday, September 14, 2005.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $10,000) = $10,000
One Short Tier 5 NG (1 * $ 5,750) = $5,750
Net Scan Risk ($10,000-$5,750) = $4,250
Spread Rate (1* $ 1000) = + $1,000
Total Requirement   = $5,250


Summary  
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin): $5,250
Member Customer (Initial Margin): $5,775
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin): $7,088


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