Notice to Members
Notice No. 563
12/09/2005
Margin Rate Change for Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swap Futures, NYMEX miNY™ Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swing Swap Futures, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts
Effective Date: Monday, December 12, 2005 (close of business)

Futures Contracts: Natural Gas, Henry Hub Swaps, NYMEX NYMEX miNY™ Natural Gas, Henry Hub Swing Swaps, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts

Contract Months: Tiers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

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
$15,500
$12,500
$17,050
$13,750
$20,925
$16,875
2
$16,000
$13,000
$17,600
$14,300
$21,600
$17,550
3
$15,500
$12,500
$17,050
$13,750
$20,925
$16,875
4
$8,000
$7,000
$8,800
$7,700
$10,800
$9,450
5
$7,000
$6,000
$7,700
$6,600
$9,450
$8,100
6
$6,750
$6,750
$7,425
$7,425
$9,113
$9,113
7
$4,500
$4,500
$4,950
$4,950
$6,075
$6,075
8
$3,000
$3,000
$3,300
$3,300
$4,050
$4,050
9
$2,000
$2,000
$2,200
$2,200
$2,700
$2,700


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
$3,875
$3,125
$4,263
$3,438
$5,231
$4,219
2
$4,000
$3,250
$4,400
$3,575
$5,400
$4,388
3
$3,875
$3,125
$4,263
$3,438
$5,231
$4,219
4
$2,000
$1,750
$2,200
$1,925
$2,700
$2,363
5
$1,750
$1,500
$1,925
$1,650
$2,363
$2,025
6
$1,688
$1,688
$1,856
$1,856
$2,278
$2,278
7
$1,125
$1,125
$1,238
$1,238
$1,519
$1,519
8
$750
$750
$825
$825
$1,013
$1,013
9
$500
$500
$550
$550
$675
$675


NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margin on NYMEX miNY™ Natural Gas Futures (QG)
 
Tiers
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
1
$7,750
$6,250
$8,525
$6,875
$10,463
$8,438
2
$8,000
$6,500
$8,800
$7,150
$10,800
$8,775


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
$3,875
$3,125
$4,263
$3,438
$5,231
$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
$3,875
$3,125
$4,263
$3,438
$5,231
$4,219
2
$4,000
$3,250
$4,400
$3,575
$5,400
$4,388
3
$3,875
$3,125
$4,263
$3,438
$5,231
$4,219
4
$2,000
$1,750
$2,200
$1,925
$2,700
$2,363
5
$1,750
$1,500
$1,925
$1,650
$2,363
$2,025
6
$1,688
$1,688
$1,856
$1,856
$2,278
$2,278
7
$1,125
$1,125
$1,238
$1,238
$1,519
$1,519
8
$750
$750
$825
$825
$1,013
$1,013
9
$500
$500
$550
$550
$675
$675


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 $9,500 starting on Monday, December 12, 2005.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $15,500) = $15,500
One Short Tier 5 NG (1 * $ 7,000) = $7,000
Net Scan Risk ($15,500-$7,000) = $8,500
Spread Rate (1* $ 1000) = + $1,000
Total Requirement   = $9,500
       
Summary      
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin):     $9,500
Member Customer (Initial Margin):     $10,450
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin):     $12,825

This notice supercedes all previous notices regarding margin rates and tiers for Natural Gas, Henry Hub Swaps, NYMEX miNY™ Natural Gas, 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