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发帖数: 2379 | 1 http://blogs.barrons.com/focusonfunds/2011/09/23/cme-raises-mar
The CME Group (CME) on Friday raised margin requirements for some gold,
silver and copper futures contracts. The hikes will be effective after the
close of business on Monday, according to the exchange operator.
Initial requirements to trade and hold gold’s benchmark contract rose 21%
to $11,475 per contract. Meanwhile, maintenance margins climbed to $8,500
from $7,000 per contract.
At the same time, initial requirements for silver rose 16% to $24,975 a
contract and maintenance margins increased to $18,500 from $16,000 a
contract.
Initial requirements for copper jumped 18% to $6,750 per contract, from $5,
738. Also, maintenance margins were increased to $5,000 from $4,250 per
contract.
Margin hikes have been blamed by traders for curtailing rallies earlier in
the year. This time around, however, CME’s attempt to again dampen
speculation comes at a time when market forces are already seemingly at work
doing much the same. The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) slid 9.7% this week and the
iShares Silver Trust (SLV) fell by nearly 24%.
According to the latest Lipper data, though, investors have continued to put
money into precious metals ETFs. In the week ended Wednesday, the group
attracted almost $103 million, a drop-off in activity from previous weeks
but still its 12th consecutive week of positive inflows. Those readings of
money flows didn’t include the big sell-off in gold and silver at week’s
end. |
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