Notice to Members
Notice No. 181
04/02/2008
Margin Rate Changes for Heating Oil, New York Harbor Heating Oil Calendar Swap, Heating Oil – Financial Contract, and NYMEX miNY Heating Oil
Effective Date: Thursday, April 3, 2008 (close of business)

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

Contract Months: All Months


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
$7,500
$7,500
$7,975
$8,250
$9,788
$10,125
2
$7,000
$7,000
$7,700
$7,700
$9,450
$9,450
3
$6,250
$5,500
$6,875
$6,050
$8,438
$7,425
4
$5,750
$4,750
$6,325
$5,225
$7,763
$6,413


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
$3,625
$3,750
$3,988
$4,125
$4,894
$5,063
2
$3,500
$3,500
$3,850
$3,850
$4,725
$4,725
3
$3,125
$2,750
$3,438
$3,025
$4,219
$3,713
4
$2,875
$2,375
$3,163
$2,613
$3,881
$3,206


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 Tuesday, April 1, 2008.

One Long Tier 1 HO (1 * $ 7,500) = $7,500
One Short Tier 2 HO (1 * $ 7,000) = $7,000
Net Scan Risk ($ 7,500-$ 7,000) = $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

This notice supersedes all previous notices regarding outright margins for Heating Oil, NY Harbor Heating Oil Calendar Swap, Heating Oil Financial Contract, and NYMEX miNY™ Heating Oil contracts.
Should you have any questions or require any further information, please contact exchangeinfo@nymex.com