Notice to Members
Notice No. 128
03/11/2008
Margin Rate Changes for Crude Oil Futures Contract, Financial Crude Oil Contract, Crude Oil Calendar Swap Contract, NYMEX miNY Crude Oil Contract, and NYMEX MACI Index Futures Contract
Effective Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 (close of business)

Futures Contracts: Crude Oil Futures Contract (CL), Financial Crude Oil Contract (WS), Crude Oil Calendar Swap (CS) NYMEX miNY Crude Oil Contract (QM)

Contract Months: All Months

NYMEX and Globex Division Outright (Scan) Margins on Light, Sweet Crude Oil Futures (CL) NYMEX Financial Crude Oil Contract (WS) and Crude Oil Calendar Swap (CS)
 
Contract/Month
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
CL (April & May 2008)
$5,750
$5,250
$6,325
$5,775
$7,763
$7,088
CL (All Other Months)
$5,250
$5,250
$5,775
$5,775
$7,088
$7,088
WS (April & May 2008)
$5,750
$5,250
$6,325
$5,775
$7,763
$7,088
WS (All Other Months)
$5,250
$5,250
$5,775
$5,775
$7,088
$7,088
CS (April & May 2008)
$5,750
$5,250
$6,325
$5,775
$7,763
$7,088
CS (All Other Months)
$5,250
$5,250
$5,775
$5,775
$7,088
$7,088


NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on NYMEY miNY Crude Oil Contract( QM)
 
Contract/Month
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
QM (April & May 2008)
$2,875
$2,625
$3,163
$2,888
$3,881
$3,544
QM (All Other Months)
$2,625
$2,625
$2,888
$2,888
$3,544
$3,544


NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on NYMEY MACI Index Futures Contract (XC)
 
Contract/Month
Clearing Member / Maintenance Margin
Member Customer Initial Margin
Non-Member Customer Initial Margin
 
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
XC
$1,264
$1,050
$1,390
$1,155
$1,706
$1,418



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 CL leg in May 2008 and another CL in June 2008 will have its requirement (at the clearing member rates) calculated at $900 starting on Wendesday, March 12, 2008.

One Long May 2008 CL (1 * $ 5,750) = $5,750
One Short June 2008 CL (1 * $ 5,250) = $5,250
Net Scan Risk ($5,750-$5,250) = $500
Spread Rate (1* $ 400) = + $400
Total Requirement   = $900
       
Summary      
Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin):     $900
Member Customer (Initial Margin):     $990
Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin):     $1,215

This notice supersedes all previous notices regarding outright margins for Crude Oil Futures Contract, Crude Oil Calendar Swap, Globex Financial Crude Oil Contract and NYMEX miNY Crude Oil Contracts.
Should you have any questions or require any further information, please contact exchangeinfo@nymex.com