A popular type of trade in natural gas futures is to short one
contract, while going long another contract. This type of trade
has several attractive features. First, the trade as a whole will
have less risk to the direction of natural gas futures prices - in
a sense, “hedge-like” in nature. Second, by shorting one
contract and being long another contract, an entity will reduce
their overall net position and hence may allow for greater
positions on the exchange without causing a trader to hit
position limits.13 NYMEX’s control system will investigate
any position with a size greater than the position limit in that
contract. However, if the entity is questioned by NYMEX
about the position, an offsetting position in another contract
may be an acceptable reason for NYMEX to allow the trade
in excess of the position limit. Third, if the trade is done as a
spread position, then the actual margin requirements from
NYMEX are lower allowing greater leverage possibilities.
Even if position limits are reached, by being short one contract
and long another contract, the entity will have a better story
of why they have such large positions (i.e. the position is
naturally hedged) and may be allowed to engage in such
positions on the exchange. Fourth, spread positions allow for
more sophisticated hedge fund-like trades.
A simple example of a spread position may illustrate the
point: Suppose on July 31, 2006 a trader wished to short one
contract and go long another contract. Suppose the trader chose
to short the March 2007 contract and go long the April 2007