Notice to Members
Notice No. 515
11/09/2005
Margin Rate Changes for Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swap Futures, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts
Effective Date: Thursday, November 10, 2005 (close of business)

Futures Contracts: Natural Gas, Henry Hub Swaps, e-miNY, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts

Contract Months: Tier 4 Only

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
$11,000
$11,000
$12,100
$12,100
$14,850
$14,850
2
$12,000
$12,000
$13,200
$13,200
$16,200
$16,200
3
$12,500
$12,500
$13,750
$13,750
$16,875
$16,875
4
$11,500
$13,000
$12,650
$14,300
$15,525
$17,550
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
$2,750
$2,750
$3,025
$3,025
$3,713
$3,713
2
$3,000
$3,000
$3,300
$3,300
$4,050
$4,050
3
$3,125
$3,125
$3,438
$3,438
$4,219
$4,219
4
$2,875
$3,250
$3,163
$3,575
$3,881
$4,388
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 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
$2,750
$2,750
$3,025
$3,025
$3,713
$3,713
2
$3,000
$3,000
$3,300
$3,300
$4,050
$4,050
3
$3,125
$3,125
$3,438
$3,438
$4,219
$4,219
4
$2,875
$3,250
$3,163
$3,575
$3,881
$4,388
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 $6,250 starting on Thursday, November 10, 2005.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $11,000) = $11,000
One Short Tier 5 NG (1 * $ 5,750) = $5,750
Net Scan Risk ($11,000-$5,750) = $5,250
Spread Rate (1* $ 1000) = + $1,000
Total Requirement   = $6,250
       
       
Summary      
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin):     $6,250
Member Customer (Initial Margin):     $6,875
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin):     $8,438

This notice supersedes all previous notices regarding margin rates and tiers for Natural Gas, Henry Hub Swaps, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts.
Should you have any questions or require any further information, please contact exchangeinfo@nymex.com