Notice to Members
Notice No. 308
06/09/2008
Margin Rate Changes for Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swap Futures, Natural Gas Penultimate, Natural Gas Last Day, Globex Natural Gas miNY™ Futures, Henry Hub Swing Swap Futures, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts
Effective Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 (close of business)

Futures Contracts:
Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swap Futures, Natural Gas (Penultimate) Financial Futures, Natural Gas (Last Day) Financial Futures, NYMEX miNY ™ Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swing Swap Futures, and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Futures Contracts
Contract Months: All Months

Note: The revised margins are in bold

NYMEX Division Outright (Scan) Margins on Natural Gas Futures (NG), 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 $8,250 $7,500 $9,075 $8,250 $11,138 $10,125
2 $8,250 $7,500 $9,075 $8,250 $11,138 $10,125
3 $9,000 $8,000 $9,900 $8,800 $12,150 $10,800
4 $9,250 $8,500 $10,175 $9,350 $12,488 $11,475
5 $6,000 $5,500 $6,600 $6,050 $8,100 $7,425
6 $6,000 $5,500 $6,600 $6,050 $8,100 $7,425
7 $4,750 $4,500 $5,225 $4,950 $6,413 $6,075
8 $4,500 $4,250 $4,950 $4,675 $6,075 $5,738
9 $4,000 $3,750 $4,400 $4,125 $5,400 $5,063


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 $2,063 $1,875 $2,269 $2,063 $2,784 $2,531
2 $2,063 $1,875 $2,269 $2,063 $2,784 $2,531
3 $2,250 $2,000 $2,475 $2,200 $3,038 $2,700
4 $2,313 $2,125 $2,544 $2,338 $3,122 $2,869
5 $1,500 $1,375 $1,650 $1,513 $2,025 $1,856
6 $1,500 $1,375 $1,650 $1,513 $2,025 $1,856
7 $1,188 $1,125 $1,306 $1,238 $1,603 $1,519
8 $1,125 $1,063 $1,238 $1,169 $1,519 $1,434
9 $1,000 $938 $1,100 $1,031 $1,350 $1,266


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 $2,063 $1,875 $2,269 $2,063 $2,784 $2,531


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 2 will have its requirement (at the clearing member rates) calculated at $ 750 starting on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $ 8,250) = $8,250
One Short Tier 2 NG (1 * $ 8,250) = $8,250
Net Scan Risk ($8,250-$8,250) = $0
Spread Rate (1* $ 750) = + $750
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