Notice to Members
Notice No. 50
01/26/2006
Margin Rate and Tier Changes for Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swap Futures, Natural Gas miNY™ Futures, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts
EFFECTIVE DATE: Friday, January 27, 2006 (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
1st Nearby
1st Nearby
2
2nd Nearby
2nd Nearby
3
3rd - 8th Nearby
3rd Nearby
4
9th - 13th Nearby
4th - 14th Nearby
5
14th Nearby
15th Nearby
6
15th - 27th Nearby
16th - 27th Nearby
7
28th- 47th Nearby
28th- 47th Nearby
8
48th - 62nd Nearby
48th - 62nd Nearby
9
Greater than 62nd Nearby
Greater than th 62nd 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
$9,000
$9,000
$9,900
$9,900
$12,150
$12,150
2
$8,000
$9,000
$8,800
$9,900
$10,800
$12,150
3
$7,000
$6,500
$7,700
$7,150
$9,450
$8,775
4
$8,500
$7,000
$9,350
$7,700
$11,475
$9,450
5
$5,500
$4,500
$6,050
$4,950
$7,425
$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
$2,250
$2,475
$2,475
$3,038
$3,038
2
$2,000
$2,250
$2,200
$2,475
$2,700
$3,038
3
$1,750
$1,625
$1,925
$1,788
$2,363
$2,194
4
$2,125
$1,750
$2,338
$1,925
$2,869
$2,363
5
$1,375
$1,125
$1,513
$1,238
$1,856
$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
$2,250
$2,475
$2,475
$3,038
$3,038
2
$2,000
$2,250
$2,200
$2,475
$2,700
$3,038

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
$2,250
$2,475
$2,475
$3,038
$3,038
2
$2,000
$2,250
$2,200
$2,475
$2,700
$3,038
3
$1,750
$1,625
$1,925
$1,788
$2,363
$2,194
4
$2,125
$1,750
$2,338
$1,925
$2,869
$2,363
5
$1,375
$1,125
$1,513
$1,238
$1,856
$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 $ 4,500 starting on Friday, January 27, 2006.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $9,000) = $9,000
One Short Tier 5 NG (1 * $ 5,500) = $5,500
Net Scan Risk ($9,000-$5,500) = $3,500
Spread Rate (1* $ 1,000) = + $1,000
Total Requirement   = $4,500


Summary  
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin): $4,500
Member Customer (Initial Margin): $4,950
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin): $6,075


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