Notice to Members
Notice No. 566
12/28/2007
Margin Rate Changes for Heating Oil (HO), New York Harbor Heating Oil Calendar Swap (MP), Heating Oil - Financial Contract (BH) and NYMEX miNY Heating Oil (QH)

Effective Date: Monday, December 31, 2007 (close of business)

Futures Contracts: Heating Oil , NY Harbor Heating Oil Calendar Swap, Heating Oil – Financial Contract and NYMEX miNY™ Heating Oil.

Contract Months : All months

Note: The revised margins are in bold

NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on Heating Oil (HO) New York Heating Oil Calendar Swap (MP) and Heating Oil - Financial Contract (BH)

Tiers

Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin

Member Customer Initial Margin

Non-Member Customer Initial Margin

 

New

Old

New

Old

New

Old

1

$5,000

$6,000

$5,500

$6,600

$6,750

$8,100

2

$4,500

$5,500

$4,950

$6,050

$6,075

$7,425

3

$3,750

$3,750

$4,125

$4,125

$5,063

$5,063

4

$3,500

$3,500

$3,850

$3,850

$4,725

$4,725

 

NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on NYMEX miNY ™Heating Oil (QH)

Tiers

Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin

Member Customer Initial Margin

Non-Member Customer Initial Margin

 

New

Old

New

Old

New

Old

1

$2,500

$3,000

$2,750

$3,300

$3,375

$4,050

2

$2,250

$2,750

$2,475

$3,025

$3,038

$3,713

3

$1,875

$1,875

$2,063

$2,063

$2,531

$2,531

4

$1,750

$1,750

$1,925

$1,925

$2,363

$2,363

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 HO leg in Tier 1 and another in Tier 2 will have its requirement (at the clearing member rates) calculated at $ 750 starting on Monday, December 31, 2007.

 

One Long Tier 1 HO (1 * $5,000) = $ 6,000

One Short Tier 2 HO (1 * $4,500) = $ 5,500

Net Scan Risk ($5,000-$4,500) = $ 500

Spread Rate (1* $ 250) = + $ 250

Total Requirement = $ 750

 

Summary

Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin): $ 750

Member Customer (Initial Margin): $ 825

Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin): $ 1,013

Should you have any questions or require any further information, please contact exchangeinfo@nymex.com