The New York Mercantile Exchange will lower the margins at the close of business today on its Henry Hub natural gas futures contracts to $4,500 for clearing members from $6,000 for the April 2001 contract and $5,000 for all other months; to $4,950 for members from $6,600 for April 2001 and $5,500 for all other months; and to $6,075 for customers from $8,100 for April 2001 and $6,750 for all other months.
Intra-commodity spread margins will decrease as follows:
- To $1,000 from $2,500 for spreads involving the first month
- To $500 from $2,500 for spreads involving the second through sixth nearby months
- To $250 from $1,000 for spreads involving the seventh through 12th nearby months
- To $100 from $200 for spreads involving all other months.
