Notice to Members
Notice No. 544
11/29/2005
Margin Rate and Tier Changes for Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swap Futures, NYMEX miNY™ Natural Gas Futures, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts
EFFECTIVE DATE: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 (close of business)

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

CONTRACT MONTHS: All Months

NG/NN/NP Intra-Commodity Spread and Scan Tiers
 
Tiers
New
Old

1

1 st Nearby

1 st Nearby

2

2nd Nearby

2nd Nearby

3

3 rd Nearby

3 rd Nearby

4

4 th Nearby

4 th Nearby

5

5th - 9th Nearby

5th - 1 th Nearby

6

10th - 15th Nearby

20th - 31st Nearby

7

16th Nearby

32nd - 52nd Nearby

8

17th - 48th Nearby

53rd - 64th Nearby

9

Greater than 48th Nearby

Greater than 64th 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

$11,000

$11,000

$12,100

$12,100

$14,850

$14,850

2

$11,500

$12,000

$12,650

$13,200

$15,525

$16,200

3

$11,500

$12,500

$12,650

$13,750

$15,525

$16,875

4

$7,000

$11,500

$7,700

$12,650

$9,450

$15,525

5

$6,000

$5,750

$6,600

$6,325

$8,100

$7,763

6

$6,750

$3,250

$7,425

$3,575

$9,113

$4,388

7

$4,500

$3,000

$4,950

$3,300

$6,075

$4,050

8

$3,000

$2,000

$3,300

$2,200

$4,050

$2,700

9

$2,000

$1,500

$2,200

$1,650

$2,700

$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

$2,875

$3,000

$3,163

$3,300

$3,881

$4,050

3

$2,875

$3,125

$3,163

$3,438

$3,881

$4,219

4

$1,750

$2,875

$1,925

$3,163

$2,363

$3,881

5

$1,500

$1,438

$1,650

$1,581

$2,025

$1,941

6

$1,688

$813

$1,856

$894

$2,278

$1,097

7

$1,125

$750

$1,238

$825

$1,519

$1,013

8

$750

$500

$825

$550

$1,013

$675

9

$500

$375

$550

$413

$675

$506



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

$5,500

$5,500

$6,050

$6,050

$7,425

$7,425

2

$5,750

$6,000

$6,325

$6,600

$7,763

$8,100



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

$2,875

$3,000

$3,163

$3,300

$3,881

$4,050

3

$2,875

$3,125

$3,163

$3,438

$3,881

$4,219

4

$1,750

$2,875

$1,925

$3,163

$2,363

$3,881

5

$1,500

$1,438

$1,650

$1,581

$2,025

$1,941

6

$1,688

$813

$1,856

$894

$2,278

$1,097

7

$1,125

$750

$1,238

$825

$1,519

$1,013

8

$750

$500

$825

$550

$1,013

$675

9

$500

$375

$550

$413

$675

$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 $6,000 starting on Wednesday, November 30, 2005.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $11,000) = $11,000
One Short Tier 5 NG (1 * $6,000) = $6,000
Net Scan Risk ($11,000-$6,000) = $5,000
Spread Rate (1* $ 1000) = + $1,000
Total Requirement   = $6,000


Summary  
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin): $6,000
Member Customer (Initial Margin): $6,600
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin): $8,100


This notice supersedes 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