Notice to Members
Notice No. 89
02/26/2008
Margin Rate and Tier Changes for Natural Gas and Related Futures Contracts

EFFECTIVE DATE : Wednesday, February 27, 2008 (close of business)

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

CONTRACT MONTHS: All months

Note: The revised margins are in bold

NG/NN/NP/HH/HP/QG Intra-Commodity Spread and Scan Tiers

Tiers

New

Old

1

1 st Nearby

1 st Nearby

2

2 nd Nearby

2 nd Nearby

3

3rd - 6th Nearby

3rd - 7th Nearby

4

7th- 12th Nearby

8th- 13th Nearby

5

13th– 18th Nearby

14th– 19th Nearby

6

19th– 24th Nearby

20th– 25th Nearby

7

25th– 36th Nearby

26th– 37th Nearby

8

37th– 48th Nearby

38th– 49th Nearby

9

Greater than 48th Nearby

Greater than 49th Nearby

 

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

$5,500

$5,000

$6,050

$5,500

$7,425

$6,750

2

$5,250

$4,750

$5,775

$5,225

$7,088

$6,413

3

$5,250

$4,250

$5,775

$4,675

$7,088

$5,738

4

$5,500

$4,500

$6,050

$4,950

$7,425

$6,075

5

$3,750

$3,500

$4,125

$3,850

$5,063

$4,725

6

$4,000

$3,750

$4,400

$4,125

$5,400

$5,063

7

$3,500

$3,250

$3,850

$3,575

$4,725

$4,388

8

$3,250

$3,000

$3,575

$3,300

$4,388

$4,050

9

$2,750

$2,500

$3,025

$2,750

$3,713

$3,375

 

 

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

$1,250

$1,513

$1,375

$1,856

$1,688

2

$1,313

$1,188

$1,444

$1,306

$1,772

$1,603

3

$1,313

$1,063

$1,444

$1,169

$1,772

$1,434

4

$1,375

$1,125

$1,513

$1,238

$1,856

$1,519

5

$938

$875

$1,031

$963

$1,266

$1,181

6

$1,000

$938

$1,100

$1,031

$1,350

$1,266

7

$875

$813

$963

$894

$1,181

$1,097

8

$813

$750

$894

$825

$1,097

$1,013

9

$688

$625

$756

$688

$928

$844

 

 

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

$1,250

$1,513

$1,375

$1,856

$1,688

 

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 $ 1,000 starting on February 27, 2008.

 

One Long Tier 1 NG (1 * $ 5,500) = $ 5,500 One Short Tier 2 NG (1 * $ 5,250) = $ 5,250

Net Scan Risk ($5,500-$5,250) = $ 250

Spread Rate (1* $ 750) = + $ 750

Total Requirement = $ 1,000

 

Summary

Clearing Member (Maintenance Margin): $ 1,000

Member Customer (Initial Margin): $ 1,100

Non-Member Customer (Initial Margin): $ 1,350

This notice supersedes all previous notices regarding margin rate for Natural Gas Futures, Henry Hub Swaps, Natural Gas Penultimate, Natural Gas Last Day, GLOBEX Natural Gas miNY™ Futures, Henry Hub Swing Swaps and Henry Hub Penultimate Swap Contracts.

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