Notice to Members
Notice No. 144
03/08/2007
Margin Rate Changes for Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swap Futures, Globex Natural Gas Penultimate, Globex Natural Gas Last Day, Natural Gas miNY Futures, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts
Effective Date: Friday, March 9, 2007 (close of business)

Futures Contracts: Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swaps, Globex Natural Gas Penultimate, Globex Natural Gas Last Day, Natural Gas miNY™ Futures, Henry Hub Penultimate Swap and Henry Hub Swing Swap Futures Contracts

Contract Months: Tiers 1 and 2 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
$5,500
$6,500
$6,050
$7,150
$7,425
$8,775
2
$5,500
$6,000
$6,050
$6,600
$7,425
$8,100
3
$5,500
$5,500
$6,050
$6,050
$7,425
$7,425
4
$5,500
$5,500
$6,050
$6,050
$7,425
$7,425
5
$6,000
$6,000
$6,600
$6,600
$8,100
$8,100
6
$4,000
$4,000
$4,400
$4,400
$5,400
$5,400
7
$3,500
$3,500
$3,850
$3,850
$4,725
$4,725
8
$2,750
$2,750
$3,025
$3,025
$3,713
$3,713
9
$2,250
$2,250
$2,475
$2,475
$3,038
$3,038


NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on Henry Hub Swap Futures (NN) Henry Hub Penultimate Swap (NP) and GLOBEX miNY Natural Gas (QG)
 
Tiers
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
1
$1,375
$1,625
$1,513
$1,788
$1,856
$2,194
2
$1,375
$1,500
$1,513
$1,650
$1,856
$2,025
3
$1,375
$1,375
$1,513
$1,513
$1,856
$1,856
4
$1,375
$1,375
$1,513
$1,513
$1,856
$1,856
5
$1,500
$1,500
$1,650
$1,650
$2,025
$2,025
6
$1,000
$1,000
$1,100
$1,100
$1,350
$1,350
7
$875
$875
$963
$963
$1,181
$1,181
8
$688
$688
$756
$756
$928
$928
9
$563
$563
$619
$619
$759
$759


NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on GLOBEX Natural Gas Penultimate (HP) and Natural Gas Last Day (HH)
 
Tiers
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
1
$5,500
$6,500
$6,050
$7,150
$7,425
$8,775
2
$5,500
$6,000
$6,050
$6,600
$7,425
$8,100
3
$5,500
$5,500
$6,050
$6,050
$7,425
$7,425
4
$5,500
$5,500
$6,050
$6,050
$7,425
$7,425
5
$6,000
$6,000
$6,600
$6,600
$8,100
$8,100
6
$4,000
$4,000
$4,400
$4,400
$5,400
$5,400
7
$3,500
$3,500
$3,850
$3,850
$4,725
$4,725
8
$2,750
$2,750
$3,025
$3,025
$3,713
$3,713
9
$2,250
$2,250
$2,475
$2,475
$3,038
$3,038


NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margin on Henry Hub SwingSwap Futures (SN)
 
Tiers
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
1
$1,375
$1,625
$1,513
$1,788
$1,856
$2,194


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 $ 1,500 starting on Friday, March 9, 2007.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $ 5,500) = $5,500
One Short Tier 4 NG (1 * $ 6,000) = $6,000
Net Scan Risk ($5,500-$6,000) = $500
Spread Rate (1* $ 1,000) =+ $1,000
Total Requirement   = $1,500
       
Summary      
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin):     $1,500
Member Customer (Initial Margin):     $1,650
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin):     $2,025

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