Nymex To Decrease Margins For Gasoline, Heating Oil, And Natural Gas Futures

The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., today announced margin decreases for its unleaded gasoline and New York Harbor gasoline calendar swap futures contracts, heating oil and New York Harbor heating calendar swap, natural gas, Henry Hub swap, NYMEX miNY^sm natural gas, Henry Hub swing swap, and Henry Hub penultimate swap futures contracts, effective at the close of business September 14.

Margins on the October 2005 unleaded gasoline futures and New York Harbor gasoline calendar swap futures contracts will decrease to $8,000 from $10,500 for clearing members; to $8,800 from $11,550 for members; and to $10,800 from $14,175 for customers.

Margins on the unleaded gasoline futures and New York Harbor gasoline calendar swap futures for all other months will decrease to $6,000 from $7,000 for clearing members; to $6,600 from $7,700 for members; and to $8,100 from $9,450 for customers.

Margins on the first month of the heating oil and New York Harbor heating oil swap futures contracts will decrease to $6,000 from $7,000 for clearing members; to $6,600 from $7,700 for members; and to $8,100 from $9,450 for customers. Margins on the second to seventh months will be increased to $5,250 from $6,250 for clearing members; to $5,775 from $6,875 for members; and to $7,088 from $8,438 for customers. Margins for all other months are unchanged.

Margins on the first and second months of the natural gas futures contracts will decrease to $10,000 from $12,500 for clearing members; to $11,000 from $13,750 for members; and to $13,500 from $16,875 for customers. The margins on the third month will decrease to $11,000 from $12,000 for clearing members, to $12,100 from $13,200 for members; and to $14,850 from $16,200 to customers. Margins on all other months are unchanged.

The margins on the first months of the Henry Hub swap and Henry Hub penultimate swap futures contracts will decrease to $2,500 from $3,125 for clearing members; to $2,750 from $3,438 for members; and to $3,375 from $4,219 for customers. The margins on the second month will decrease to $2,500 from $3,000 for clearing members; to $2,750 from $3,300 for members; and to $3,375 from $4,050 for customers. The margins on the third month will decrease to $2,750 from $3,000 for clearing members; to $3,025 from $3,300 for members; and to $3,713 from $4,050 to customers. All other months will remain the same.

Margins on the first month of the NYMEX miNY^smnatural gas futures contracts will decrease to $5,000 from $6,250 for clearing members, to $5,500 from $6,875 for members, and to $6,750 from $8,438 for customers. Second month margins will decrease to $5,000 from $6,000 for clearing members, to $5,500 from $6,600 for members, and to $6,750 from $8,100 for customers.

Margins on the Henry Hub Swing swap futures contracts will decrease to $2,500 from $3,125 for clearing members; to $2,750 from $3,438 for members; and to $3,375 from $4,219 for customers.