Instead of charging a fee for using its new electronic trading system, the New York Mercantile Exchange Inc. (Nymex) plans to pay traders for creating liquidity. Under the terms of the program, any participant who makes a bid or offer on the Nymex ClearPort network that is subsequently accepted will receive payment in lieu of an exchange fee.

For the Henry Hub natural gas swaps futures contract and all natural gas basis futures contracts, liquidity providers will receive $0.25 per contract and the participant on the other side of the trade will pay an all-inclusive fee of $0.65 per contract.

“This innovative pricing structure is reflective of the fresh thinking that went into the design of this system and the product mix we will make available,” said exchange President J. Robert Collins Jr. “Our Nymex ClearPort platform will recognize and support the role of liquidity providers, while providing a full-service portal with open access and consistent pricing for all industry participants.”

For the crude and petroleum products futures contracts, liquidity providers will receive $1.00 and the participant on the other side of the trade will pay an all-inclusive fee of $2.50 per contract. For electricity futures, liquidity providers will receive $1.00 and the participant on the other side of the trade will pay an all-inclusive fee of $3.50 per contract.

Futures contracts that will be offered for trading on Nymex ClearPort beginning 3:15 p.m. Friday include the following:

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