Notice to Members
Notice No. 08
01/05/2006
Margin Rate Change for Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swap Futures, Natural Gas miNY™ Futures, Henry Hub Swing Swap Futures, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap
Effective Date: Friday, January 6, 2006 (close of business)

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

Contract Months: Tiers 1 and 2

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
$12,000
$14,000
$13,200
$15,400
$16,200
$18,900
2
$12,000
$14,000
$13,200
$15,400
$16,200
$18,900
3
$8,000
$8,000
$8,800
$8,800
$10,800
$10,800
4
$7,000
$7,000
$7,700
$7,700
$9,450
$9,450
5
$4,500
$4,500
$4,950
$4,950
$6,075
$6,075
6
$3,500
$3,500
$3,850
$3,850
$4,725
$4,725
7
$3,000
$3,000
$3,300
$3,300
$4,050
$4,050
8
$2,500
$2,500
$2,750
$2,750
$3,375
$3,375
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
$3,000
$3,500
$3,300
$3,850
$4,050
$4,725
2
$3,000
$3,500
$3,300
$3,850
$4,050
$4,725
3
$2,000
$2,000
$2,200
$2,200
$2,700
$2,700
4
$1,750
$1,750
$1,925
$1,925
$2,363
$2,363
5
$1,125
$1,125
$1,238
$1,238
$1,519
$1,519
6
$875
$875
$963
$963
$1,181
$1,181
7
$750
$750
$825
$825
$1,013
$1,013
8
$625
$625
$688
$688
$844
$844
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
$3,000
$3,500
$3,300
$3,850
$4,050
$4,725
2
$3,000
$3,500
$3,300
$3,850
$4,050
$4,725


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
$3,000
$3,500
$3,300
$3,850
$4,050
$4,725


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
$3,000
$3,500
$3,300
$3,850
$4,050
$4,725
2
$3,000
$3,500
$3,300
$3,850
$4,050
$4,725
3
$2,000
$2,000
$2,200
$2,200
$2,700
$2,700
4
$1,750
$1,750
$1,925
$1,925
$2,363
$2,363
5
$1,125
$1,125
$1,238
$1,238
$1,519
$1,519
6
$875
$875
$963
$963
$1,181
$1,181
7
$750
$750
$825
$825
$1,013
$1,013
8
$625
$625
$688
$688
$844
$844
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 $ 8,500 starting on Friday, January 6, 2006.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $12,000) = $12,000
One Short Tier 5 NG (1 * $ 4,500) = $4,500
Net Scan Risk ($12,000-$4,500) = $7,500
Spread Rate (1* $ 1000) = + $1,000
Total Requirement   = $8,500
       
Summary      
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin):     $8,500
Member Customer (Initial Margin):     $9,350
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin):     $11,475

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