New York Mercantile Exchange To Change Margins For Some Metals Futures Contracts

The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. today announced margin changes for its gold, copper and palladium futures contracts, effective at the close of business on Monday.

Margins for the gold futures contract will increase to $3,500 from $2,750 for clearing and non-clearing members and to $4,725 from $3,713 for customers.

Margins for the May 2006 to December 2006 copper futures contracts will increase to $6,500 from $6,000 for clearing and non–clearing members and to $8,775 from $8,100 for customers. Margins for all other months of the copper futures contracts will increase to $5,000 from $4,000 for clearing and non–clearing members and to $6,750 from $5,400 for customers.

Margins for the palladium futures contract will increase to $2,500 from $2,000 for clearing members, to $2,750 from $2,200 for members, and to $3,375 from $2,700 for customers.