Margin

The House of Representatives Wednesday passed by an overwhelming margin a conference report on the nearly $300 billion farm bill that contains a provision to close the so-called “Enron Loophole,” which for years has exempted large electronic trading platforms from the oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

The New York Mercantile Exchange Inc. (Nymex) announced margin increases Thursday for its natural gas; Henry Hub swap, swing swap and penultimate swap; natural gas penultimate and last day financial; and NymexmiNY natural gas futures contracts, effective at the close of business Friday. Margins for the first month of the natural gas, natural gas penultimate financial, and natural gas last day financial futures contracts will increase to $6,250 from $6,000 for clearing members, to $6,875 from $6,600 for members, and to $8,438 from $8,100 for customers. The margins for the second month will increase to $6,250 from $5,750 for clearing members, to $6,875 from $6,325 for members, and to $8,438 from $7,763 for customers. The margins for the third to fifth months will increase to $6,500 from $5,750 for clearing members, to $7,150 from $6,325 for members, and to $8,775 from $7,763 for customers. The margins for the first month of the NymexmiNY natural gas and Henry Hub swap and penultimate swap futures contracts will increase to $1,563 from $1,500 for clearing members, to $1,719 from $1,650 for members, and to $2,025 from $1,941 for customers. The margins for the second month will increase to $1,563 from $1,438 for clearing members, to $1,719 from $1,581 for members, and to $2,109 from $1,941 for customers. The margins for the third to fifth months will increase to $1,625 from $1,438 for clearing members, to $1,788 from $1,581 for members, and to $2,194 from $1,941 for customers. The margins for the Henry Hub swing swap futures contracts will increase to $1,563 from $1,500 for clearing members, to $1,719 from $1,650 for members, and to $2,109 from $2,025 for customers. For increases in the out-month contracts in all of Nymex’s natural gas products, visit www.nymex.com.

The House last Wednesday passed by a wide margin Democratic legislation that would extend tax breaks for renewable energy and energy efficiency at the expense of oil and natural gas producers.

The House Wednesday passed by a wide margin Democratic legislation that would extend tax breaks for renewable energy and energy conservation at the expense of oil and natural gas producers.

Gas-weighted Rockies producers such as Bill Barrett Corp., Questar Corp., Ultra Petroleum and The Williams Companies face margin compression in the near term while they wait for the next increments of the Rockies Express pipeline to come online at the beginning of 2008 and mid-2009, according to Raymond James & Associates Inc.

Gas-weighted Rockies producers such as Bill Barrett Corp., Questar Corp., Ultra Petroleum and The Williams Companies face margin compression in the near term while they wait for the next increments of the Rockies Express pipeline to come online at the beginning of 2008 and mid-2009, according to Raymond James & Associates Inc.

The House last Thursday passed by a wide margin energy legislation (HR 6) that is a major blow to traditional oil and natural gas producers, but a significant boon to makers of renewable and alternative energy fuels. A key Senate energy panel, meanwhile, took its first look at problems with the royalty-collection practices in the Gulf of Mexico.

The House Thursday passed by a wide margin energy legislation (HR 6) that is a major blow to traditional oil and natural gas producers, but a significant boon to makers of renewable and alternative energy fuels. A key Senate energy panel, meanwhile, took its first look at problems with the royalty-collection practices in the Gulf of Mexico.

The oil and natural gas industry clinched a crucial victory last Tuesday when the Senate by a wide margin passed legislation that paves the way for future leasing in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. However, the legislative battle is far from over. The Senate and House are now tasked with the responsibility of reconciling two vastly different offshore leasing bills — a feat some believe will test the mettle of even the best Capitol Hill negotiators.