Notice to Members
Notice No. 198
05/11/2005
Margin Rate and Tier Changes for Natural Gas Futures (NG), Henry Hub Swap Futures (NN) and Natural Gas e-miNY Futures (QG) Contracts
EFFECTIVE DATE: Thursday, May 12, 2005 (close of business)

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

CONTRACT MONTHS: All Months

NG/NN 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 - 6th Nearby
4th Nearby
5
7th - 10th Nearby
5th - 11th Nearby
6
11th - 20thNearby
12th - 15th Nearby
7
21st - 31st Nearby
16th - 27th Nearby
8
32nd - 43rd Nearby
28th - 48th Nearby
9
Greater than 43rd Nearby
Greater than 48th 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
$4,500
$5,500
$4,950
$6,050
$6,075
$7,425
2
$4,500
$5,500
$4,950
$6,050
$6,075
$7,425
3
$4,000
$4,750
$4,400
$5,225
$5,400
$6,413
4
$4,000
$4,500
$4,400
$4,950
$5,400
$6,075
5
$5,000
$4,250
$5,500
$4,675
$6,750
$5,738
6
$3,000
$4,000
$3,300
$4,400
$4,050
$5,400
7
$2,750
$2,000
$3,025
$2,200
$3,713
$2,700
8
$2,500
$1,500
$2,750
$1,650
$3,375
$2,025
9
$2,500
$1,250
$2,750
$1,375
$3,375
$1,688


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
$1,125
$1,375
$1,238
$1,513
$1,519
$1,856
2
$1,125
$1,375
$1,238
$1,513
$1,519
$1,856
3
$1,000
$1,188
$1,100
$1,306
$1,350
$1,603
4
$1,000
$1,125
$1,100
$1,238
$1,350
$1,519
5
$1,250
$1,063
$1,375
$1,169
$1,688
$1,434
6
$750
$1,000
$825
$1,100
$1,013
$1,350
7
$688
$500
$756
$550
$928
$675
8
$625
$375
$688
$413
$844
$506
9
$625
$313
$688
$344
$844
$422


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
$2,250
$2,750
$2,475
$3,025
$3,038
$3,713
2
$2,250
$2,750
$2,475
$3,025
$3,038
$3,713


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 8 will have its requirement (at the clearing member rates) calculated at $3,000 starting on Thursday, May 12, 2005.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $4,500) = $4,500
One Short Tier 8 NG (1 * $2,500) = $2,500
Net Scan Risk ($4,500-$2,500) = $2,000
Spread Rate (1* $ 1000) =    + $1,000
Total Requirement   = $3,000


Summary  
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin): $3,000
Member Customer (Initial Margin): $3,300
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin): $4,050
Should you have any questions or require any further information, please contact exchangeinfo@nymex.com