Notice to Members
Notice No. 73
02/18/2005
Margin Rates For New NYMEX Natural Gas Basis Futures Contracts
EFFECTIVE DATE: Tuesday, February 22, 2005 (close of business)

FUTURES CONTRACTS:
ANR Louisiana Basis Futures Contract (ND)
Kern River, Wyoming Basis Futures Contract (NV)
Questar Basis Futures Contract (TA)
Tennessee 500 Leg Basis Futures Contract (NM)
Tennessee Zone 0 Basis Futures Contract (NQ)
Texas Gas, Zone SL Basis Futures Contract (TB)
Trunkline, LA Basis Futures Contract (NU)
CONTRACT MONTHS: All Months



NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on ANR Louisiana (ND), Tennessee 500 Leg (NM), Trunkline, LA (NU), And Texas Gas, Zone SL (TB) Basis Futures Contracts
 
Tiers
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non–Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
New
New
Tier 1 (1st Nearby)
$50
$55
$68
Tier 2 (Greater than 2nd Nearby)
$25
$28
$34


NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on Tennessee Zone 0 (NQ) Basis Futures Contracts
 
Tiers
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non–Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
New
New
Tier 1 (1st Nearby)
$150
$165
$203
Tier 2 (Greater than 2nd Nearby)
$75
$83
$101


NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on Kern River, Wyoming (NV), And Questar (TA) Basis Futures Contracts
 
Tiers
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non–Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
New
New
Tier 1 (1st Nearby)
$500
$550
$675
Tier 2 (2nd Nearby)
$250
$275
$338
Tier 3 (3rd - 4th Nearby)
$225
$248
$304
Tier 4 (5th -11th Nearby)
$125
$138
$169
Tier 5 (Greater than 11th Nearby)
$75
$83
$101


NYMEX Division Intra-Commodity Spread Margin on ANR Louisiana (ND), Tennessee 500 Leg (NM), Trunkline, LA (NU), And Texas Gas, Zone SL (TB), Kern River, Wyoming (NV), And Questar (TA), Tennessee Zone 0 (NQ) Basis Futures Contracts
 
Tiers
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non–Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
New
New
All Months
$25
$28
$34


NYMEX Division Spot Assessment Margin on ANR Louisiana (ND), Tennessee 500 Leg (NM), Trunkline, LA (NU), And Texas Gas, Zone SL (TB), Wyoming (NV), And Questar (TA), Tennessee Zone 0 (NQ) Basis Futures Contracts
 
Tiers
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non–Member Customer Initial Margin
ND
$100
$110
$135
NM
$100
$110
$135
NU
$100
$110
$135
TB
$100
$110
$135
NV
$500
$550
$675
TA
$500
$550
$675
NQ
$100
$110
$135


NYMEX Division Inter-Commodity Spread Credits For Kern River, Wyoming (NV), And Questar (TA) Basis Futures Contracts
 
Spread
Priority
Ratio
% Credit
NV:NR
230
1:01
65
NV:CI
231
1:01
65
TA:NR
232
1:01
65
TA:CI
233
1:01
65


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 NV leg in Tier 1 and another in Tier 5 will have its requirement (at the clearing member rates) calculated at $450 starting on Tuesday, February 22, 2004.


One Long Tier 1 NV (1 * $500) =
$500
One Short Tier 5 NV (1 * $75) =
$  75
Net Scan Risk ($500-$75) =
$425
Spread Rate (1* $ 25) = +
$  25
Total Requirement   =
$450


Summary  
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin): $450
Member Customer (Initial Margin): $495
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin): $608
Should you have any questions or require any further information, please contact exchangeinfo@nymex.com