Notice to Members
Notice No. 33
01/17/2006
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 Contracts
Effective Date: Wednesday, January 18, 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, 2, and 3

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
$9,000
$12,000
$9,900
$13,200
$12,150
$16,200
2
$9,000
$12,000
$9,900
$13,200
$12,150
$16,200
3
$6,500
$8,000
$7,150
$8,800
$8,775
$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
$2,250
$3,000
$2,475
$3,300
$3,038
$4,050
2
$2,250
$3,000
$2,475
$3,300
$3,038
$4,050
3
$1,625
$2,000
$1,788
$2,200
$2,194
$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
$2,250
$3,000
$2,475
$3,300
$3,038
$4,050
2
$2,250
$3,000
$2,475
$3,300
$3,038
$4,050


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
$2,250
$3,000
$2,475
$3,300
$3,038
$4,050


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
$2,250
$3,000
$2,475
$3,300
$3,038
$4,050
2
$2,250
$3,000
$2,475
$3,300
$3,038
$4,050
3
$1,625
$2,000
$1,788
$2,200
$2,194
$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 $ 5,500 starting on Wednesday, January 18, 2006.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $9,000) = $9,000
One Short Tier 5 NG (1 * $ 4,500) = $4,500
Net Scan Risk ($9,000-$4,500) = $4,500
Spread Rate (1* $ 1000) = + $1,000
Total Requirement   = $5,500
       
Summary      
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin):     $5,500
Member Customer (Initial Margin):     $6,050
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin):     $7,425

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