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New York Mercantile Exchange To Reduce Size Of NYMEX miNYTM Natural Gas Futures Contracts

Date 05/12/2005

The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., announced today that it will reduce the size of its NYMEX miNYTM natural gas futures, beginning with the February 2006 contract.

The contract will be reduced from 5,000 million British thermal units (mmBtu) to 2,500 mmBtus. The January 2006 NYMEX miNYTM natural gas futures contract (5,000 mmBtus) will expire on December 27, at 2:30 PM New York time. The February 2006 contract (2,500 mmBtus) will be listed for trading on December 27, at 3:15 PM New York time, for the trade date of December 28.

Clearing fees for one to 200 contracts traded will decrease to $0.32 from $0.63 for NYMEX Division members, to $0.52 from $1.03 for COMEX Division members, and to $0.65 from $1.25 for customers. Fees for 201 to 750 contracts traded will decrease to $0.19 from $0.38 for NYMEX Division members, to $0.32 from $0.63 for COMEX Division members, and to $0.65 from $1.25 for customers. Fees for 750 contracts or more will decrease to $0.08 from $0.15 for NYMEX Division members, to $0.13 from $0.25 for COMEX Division members, and to $0.65 from $1.25 for customers.
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