Nymex Increases Margins For Crude Oil, Brent Crude Oil, e-miNY<SUP>sm</SUP> Crude Oil Futures And Other Related Contracts

The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., will increase the margins for its light, sweet crude oil futures, light, sweet crude oil calendar swap futures, Brent crude oil futures, Brent crude oil calendar swap futures, and e-miNY^sm crude oil futures contracts at the close of business tomorrow.

Margins for the light, sweet crude oil futures and calendar swap futures, as well as Brent crude oil futures and calendar swap futures contracts for April 2005 to September 2005 will increase to $3,500 from $2,500 for clearing members, to $3,850 from $2,750 for members, and to $4,725 from $3,375 for customers.

Margins on the e-miNY^sm crude oil futures contract from April 2005 to September 2005 will increase to $1,750 from $1,250 for clearing members, to $1,925 from $1,375 for members, and to $2,363 from $1,688 for customers.