Executive Summary:
This SEBI circular, issued on February 24, 2020, reviews the margin framework for cash and derivatives segments (excluding commodity derivatives). It outlines changes to risk management measures based on recommendations from the Risk Management Review Committee (RMRC). The provisions of this circular will come into effect from May 01, 2020.
Key Points / Main Content:
Margin Framework for Cash Market:
VaR Margin Rates:
Group I stocks: 6 sigma, minimum of 9.
Group II stocks: 6 sigma, minimum of 21.5.
Group III stocks: 50 (if traded at least once per week), 75 otherwise.
ETFs (tracking broad-based market indices): 6 sigma, minimum of 6.
Extreme Loss Margin:
3. 5 for any stock.
4. 0 for ETFs that track broad-based market indices.
Margin Framework for Derivatives (Index, Single Stock, Currency, and Interest Rate):
Volatility Calculation: EWMA method's parameter fixed at 0.995.
Price Scan Range:
Index derivatives: Based on 6, scaled up by 2, minimum of 9.3% of underlying price (17.7% for contracts > 9 months maturity).
Single stock derivatives: Based on 6, scaled up by 2, minimum of 14.2% of underlying price, further scaled up by 3 if impact cost is high.
Currency and interest rate derivatives: Based on 6, subject to minimum percentages of underlying price as specified in the circular.
Volatility Scan Range:
Index derivatives: 25% of annualized EWMA volatility, minimum 4.
Single stock derivatives: 25% of annualized EWMA volatility, minimum 10.
Currency and interest rate derivatives: 25% of annualized EWMA volatility, minimum 3.
Calendar Spread Charge: Specified for index, single stock, currency, and interest rate derivatives across different months.
Short Option Minimum Charge: No separate charge for index, single stock, currency, and interest rate derivatives.
Extreme Loss Margin: Specified for index, single stock, currency, and interest rate derivatives (futures and options) with specific rules for calendar spread positions and deep out-of-the-money options.
Margin on Consolidated Crystallized Obligation:
Represents payable crystallized obligations on intraday and end-of-day basis at client level.
Replaces net buy premium, intraday crystallized losses, assignment margin, and futures final settlement margin.
Released on completion of settlement.
Additional Margin for Highly Volatile Stocks:
If intraday price movement exceeds 10% for 3+ days in a month or 10+ days in six months, minimum total margins equal maximum intraday price movement observed during the relevant period.
Impact Analysis:
Stock Exchanges and Clearing Corporations:
Impact: Must implement the circular's provisions by amending byelaws, rules, and regulations. Responsible for risk management, with SEBI's framework being a minimum standard.
Action Required: Establish systems for implementation, notify members, disseminate information on websites, and report implementation status to SEBI in the Monthly Development Report.
Members of Stock Exchanges and Clearing Corporations:
Impact: Subject to revised margin requirements and risk management measures in cash and derivatives segments.
Action Required: Understand and comply with the new margin framework, as communicated by the Stock Exchanges and Clearing Corporations.
Investors:
Impact: Protected by enhanced risk management measures in the securities market.
Action Required: Be aware of the changes in margin requirements and their potential impact on trading activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Securities and Exchange Board of India Act 1992: Indian law under which the circular is issued, empowering SEBI to protect investors and regulate the securities market.
Securities Contracts Regulation Act, 1956: Indian law, mentioned alongside the SEBI Act, granting powers to regulate the securities market.
SEBI: Securities and Exchange Board of India, the regulatory body that issued the circular regarding risk management framework.
Risk Management Review Committee: RMRC of SEBI, the committee consulted for the review of the margin framework.
Stock Exchanges: Recognized Stock Exchanges, entities to whom the circular is addressed, excluding those in International Financial Services Centres.
Clearing Corporations: Clearing Corporations, entities to whom the circular is addressed, excluding those in International Financial Services Centres.
International Financial Services Centre: Specific economic zones, Stock Exchanges and Clearing Corporations operating in these zones are excluded from this circular.
Cash Market: One of the segments to which the margin framework applies, addressed in the circular.
Derivatives segments: One of the segments to which the margin framework applies, addressed in the circular, excluding commodity derivatives.
CIRCULAR
SEBI/HO/MRD2/DCAP/CIR/P/2020/27 February 24, 2020
To
All Recognized Stock Exchanges and Clearing Corporations (except Stock
Exchanges and Clearing Corporations in International Financial Services Centre)
Dear Sir/ Madam
Review of Margin Framework for Cash and Derivatives segments (except for
Commodity Derivatives segment)
1 SEBI has, from time to time, put in place various risk containment measures to
address the risks involved in the cash and derivatives market. With a view to
keeping up pace with the changing market dynamics and to bring more efficiency
in the risk management framework, a comprehensive review of the margin
framework was done in consultation with the Risk Management Review
Committee (RMRC) of SEBI. Based on the review, it has been decided to effect
the following changes to the existing risk management framework.
1.1 Margin framework for Cash Market
1.1.1 VaR Margin Rates
The VaR margin rates shall be as follows for different groups of stocks:
Liquidity VaR Margin Rate
Categorization
Group I Based on 6σ, subject to minimum of 9%
Group II Based on 6σ, subject to minimum of 21.5%
Group III 50% if traded atleast once per week on any stock
exchange; 75% otherwise
Note:
In case of ETFs that track broad based market indices and do not include
ETFs which track sectoral indices, the VaR margin rate shall be 6 sigma,
subject to minimum of 6%.
1.1.2 Extreme Loss Margin
The Extreme Loss Margin shall be 3.5% for any stock and 2% for ETFs that
track broad based market indices and do not include ETFs which track
sectoral indices.
Page 1 of 81.2 Margin framework for Derivatives (Index Derivatives, Single Stock
Derivatives, Currency and Interest Rate Derivatives)
1.2.1 Volatility calculation
The value of λ, the parameter which determines how rapidly volatility
estimation changes in the Exponential Weighted Moving Average (EWMA)
method, shall be fixed at 0.995.
The value of λ shall, accordingly, also get changed for volatility calculation in
the cash market.
1.2.2 Price Scan Range
The Price Scan Range in respect of various products shall be as follows:
Product Price Scan Range
Index derivatives Based on 6σ, scaled up by √2 subject to at least 9.3% of
the underlying price after considering scaling up.
In case of index option contracts with residual maturity of
more than 9 months, the price scan range shall be based
on 6σ, scaled up by √2 subject to at least 17.7% of the
underlying price after considering scaling up.
Single stock Based on 6σ, scaled up by √2 subject to at least 14.2% of
derivatives the underlying price after considering scaling up.
The price scan range thus arrived shall be further scaled
up by √3, if the impact cost of the security (as used for
categorization of securities for margining in Cash Market)
is greater than 1%.
Currency and interest Based on 6σ, subject to the minimum percentage of
rate derivatives underlying price as tabulated below.
Currency/Interest Minimum percentage of
Rate derivative underlying Price
USDINR 1.50%
EURINR 2.15%
GBPINR 2.25%
JPYINR 2.65%
EURUSD 2.50%
GBPUSD 2.50%
USDJPY 2.50%
Page 2 of 8Interest Rate
1.75%
Derivatives
91 Day T Bill 0.065%
MIBOR 5.50%
1.2.3 Volatility Scan Range
The Volatility Scan Range in respect of various products shall be as follows:
Product Volatility Scan Range
Index derivatives 25% of annualized EWMA volatility subject to
minimum 4%
Single stock 25% of annualized EWMA volatility subject to
derivatives minimum 10%
Currency and interest 25% of annualized EWMA volatility subject to
rate derivatives minimum 3%
1.2.4 Calendar Spread Charge
The Calendar Spread Charge in respect of various products shall be as
follows:
Product Calendar Spread Charge
Index derivatives 1.75% of the far month contract
Single stock 2.2% of the far month contract
derivatives
Currency and
interest rate Calendar spread charge for spreads in
derivatives months (INR)
Product
2 3 4 months
1 month
months months or more
USDINR 500 600 900 1100
EURINR 750 1050 1550 1550
GBPINR 1575 1875 2075 2075
JPYINR 675 1075 1575 1575
EURUSD 1600 1900 2100 2200
GBPUSD 1600 1900 2100 2200
USDJPY 1600 1900 2100 2200
Interest
Rate 1700 2000 2300 3200
Derivatives
91 Day T
110 160 210 260
Bill
Page 3 of 8MIBOR 7000 7500 8000 8000
1.2.5 Short Option Minimum Charge
There shall be no separate short option minimum charge for index derivatives,
single stock derivatives, currency and interest rate derivatives.
1.2.6 Extreme Loss Margin
The Extreme Loss Margin rates shall be as under:
Product Extreme Loss Margin
Index derivatives 2% of the notional value
Single stock 3.5% of the notional value
derivatives
Currency and interest
rate derivatives Product ELM: Futures ELM: Options
USDINR 0.50% 0.75%
EURINR 0.15% 0.75%
GBPINR 0.25% 0.75%
JPYINR 0.35% 0.75%
EURUSD 0.50% 0.50%
GBPUSD 0.50% 0.50%
USDJPY 0.50% 0.50%
Interest Rate
0.25% 0.25%
Derivatives
91 Day T Bill 0.015% -
MIBOR 0.50% -
Notes:
1. In case of calendar spread positions in futures contracts, extreme loss
margin shall be levied on one third of the value of the open position of the
far month futures contract.
2. In case of index options contracts that are deep out of the money (i.e.,
strikes out of the money by more than 10% from the previous day closing
underlying price), the applicable Extreme Loss Margin shall be 3%.
3. In case of index option contracts with residual maturity of more than 9
months, the applicable Extreme Loss Margin shall be 5%.
4. In case of single stock options contracts that are deep out of the money
(i.e., strikes out of the money by more than 30% from the previous day
closing underlying price), the applicable Extreme Loss Margin shall be
5.25%.
Page 4 of 81.2.7 Margin on consolidated crystallized obligation
The margin on consolidated crystallized obligation in derivatives shall
represent:
On intraday Payable crystallized obligations based on the closed out futures
basis positions and payable/receivable premium at client level.
At end-of-day Payable obligations at client level considering all futures and
options positions.
Intraday basis
On intraday basis, the net payable/receivable amount at client level shall be
calculated using:
1. Premium payable/receivable
2. Futures crystallized profit or loss (calculated based on weighted average
prices of trades executed).
If the overall amount at client level is payable, such amount shall be the
intraday consolidated crystallized obligation margin for the client.
End-of-day basis
At the end of day, the payable/receivable amount at client level shall be
calculated using:
1. Futures mark to market profit/loss to be settled
2. Options premium payable/receivable
3. Options exercise/assignment for expired contracts
4. Futures final settlement for expired contracts
If the overall amount at client level is payable, such amount shall be the end-
of-day consolidated crystallized obligation margin for the client.
The margin on consolidated crystallized obligations shall replace the net buy
premium, intraday crystallized losses, assignment margin and futures final
settlement margin levied currently.
The margin on consolidated crystallized obligations shall be released on
completion of settlement.
1.3 Additional Margin for highly volatile stocks
(i) For securities with intra-day price movement (maximum of [High-Low], [High-
Previous Close], [Low-Previous Close]) of more than 10% in the underlying
market for 3 or more days in last one month, the minimum total margins shall
be equal to the maximum intra-day price movement of the security observed
Page 5 of 8in the underlying market in last one month. The same shall be continued till
monthly expiry date of derivative contracts which falls after completion of
three months from date of levy.
(ii) For securities with intra-day price movement (maximum of [High-Low], [High-
Previous Close], [Low-Previous Close]) of more than 10% in the underlying
market for 10 or more days in last six months, the minimum total margins shall
be equal to the maximum intraday price movement of the security observed in
the underlying market in last six months. The same shall be continued till
monthly expiry date of derivative contracts which falls after completion of one
year from date of levy.
2 The provisions of the existing Circulars (given at Annexure A), inter alia,
specifying risk management framework for cash and derivatives segments
(except for commodity derivatives segment) shall, accordingly, be amended to
the extent mentioned at Para 1 above. All other provisions/conditions specified in
the Circulars given at Annexure A shall remain unchanged.
3 It is reiterated that risk management is primarily a responsibility of Clearing
Corporations (CCs) and the framework prescribed by SEBI is minimum
framework. CCs are allowed to be more conservative as per their own
perception of risk.
4 The provisions of this Circular shall come into effect from May 01, 2020.
5 Stock Exchanges and Clearing Corporations are directed to:
a) take necessary steps to put in place systems for implementation of
the circular, including necessary amendments to the relevant bye-laws,
rules and regulations;
b) bring the provisions of this circular to the notice of their members and
also disseminate the same on their websites; and
c) communicate to SEBI, the status of implementation of the provisions of this
circular in the Monthly Development Report.
6 This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section
11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act 1992, read with
Section 10 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 to protect the
interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of,
and to regulate the securities market.
Page 6 of 87 This circular is available on SEBI website at www.sebi.gov.in at “Legal
Framework→Circulars”.
Yours faithfully
(Amit Tandon)
General Manager
Market Regulation Department
email: amitt@sebi.gov.in
Page 7 of 8Annexure A
List of existing Circulars, inter alia, specifying Risk Management framework for
Cash and Derivatives segments (except for Commodity Derivatives segment)
1. IES/DC/CIR-4/99 dated July 28, 1999
2. IES/DC/CIR-5/00 dated December 11, 2000
3. SMDRP/DC/CIR-7/01 dated June 20, 2001
4. SMDRP/DC/CIR-10/01 dated November 02, 2001
5. SMDRP/DC/CIR-13/02 dated December 18, 2002
6. SEBI/SMDRP/DC/Cir-16/2003/04/19 dated April 19, 2003
7. SEBI/SMDRP/DC/Cir-/2004/01/05 dated January 05, 2004
8. MRD/DoP/SE/Cir-07/2005 dated February 23, 2005
9. MRD/DoP/SE/Cir-6/2006 dated June 16, 2006
10. SEBI/DNPD/Cir-34/2008 dated January 11, 2008
11. MRD/DoP/SE/Cir-10/2008 dated April 17, 2008
12. SEBI/DNPD/Cir- 38 /2008 dated August 06, 2008
13. SEBI/DNPD/Cir-41/2008 dated October 15, 2008
14. MRD/DoP/SE/Cir-08/2009 dated July 27, 2009
15. SEBI/DNPD/Cir- 46 /2009 dated August 28, 2009
16. SEBI/DNPD/Cir- 52 /2010 dated January 19, 2010
17. CIR/DNPD/2/2010 dated May 04, 2010
18. CIR/DNPD/3/2010 dated July 07, 2010
19. CIR/DNPD/5/2010 dated July 30, 2010
20. SEBI /DNPD/ 3 /2011 dated March 07, 2011
21. CIR/DNPD/8/2011 dated December 30, 2011
22. CIR/MRD/DP/26/2012 dated September 26, 2012
23. CIR/MRD/DP/22/2013 dated July 08, 2013
24. CIR/MRD/DRMNP/35/2013 dated December 05, 2013
25. CIR/MRD/DP/12/2014 dated April 07, 2014
26. CIR/MRD/DRMNP/11/2015 dated June 12, 2015
27. SEBI/HO/MRD/DP/CIR/P/2016/38 dated March 09, 2016
28. CIR/MRD/DRMNP/008/2018 dated January 08, 2018
29. SEBI/HO/MRD/DRMNP/CIR/P/2018/75 dated May 02, 2018
30. SEBI/HO/MRD/DRMNP/CIR/P/2018/155 dated December 17, 2018
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