Risk Parameter File Layouts for the Positional Formats

Owned by CME Group
Last updated: Apr 26, 2024
5 min read

Currency Codes Recognized


These pages contain the comprehensive description of file layouts for four positional formats for SPAN risk parameter files -- the unpacked format, the packed format, the expanded unpacked format, and the Paris expanded format.

  • the unpacked format is the original format with 80-byte records and two-byte product codes, still widely used;


  • the packed format is a variant on the unpacked format optimized for programmers accustomed to receiving data in EBCDIC and COBOL COMP-3 (packed decimal) format.  Only CME and CBOT produce their SPAN files in this format, and this is in addition to the unpacked format.


  • the expanded unpacked format is an extension of the original unpacked format to add support for long product codes (up to 10 bytes), long combined commodity codes (up to 6 bytes), and explicit recognition of different product types.  Most exchanges which have adopted SPAN more recently provide their SPAN files in this format.
     

  • the Paris expanded format is a variant of the expanded unpacked format originally introduced by Euronext and Clearnet SA in Paris, which uses this format for its SPAN files for the MATIF and Monep markets.

Please note that: the London Clearing House produces SPAN files for the LIFFE and the other exchanges it clears in the London format, not described here.

Summary Description of Record Types -- In Logical Order

  • The type "0" -- Exchange Complex Header -- record is the first and only record in the file in the expanded-unpacked format. It identifies the clearing organization, cross-margin agreement, or other grouping of exchanges to which the file pertains.


  • The type "1" -- Exchange Header -- record is the first record of a group of records for an exchange. The file may contain groups of records for any number of exchanges. In the standard unpacked or packed format, this is the first record in the file.


  • Type "P" records contain price conversion parameters, such as decimal locators and contract value factors, needed to convert quoted prices into actual contract values.  PC-SPAN will read these records and update the Organization Master database, its master repository of supported products.  If present, type "P" records for an exchange should immediately follow the type "1" (exchange header) record for that exchange.


  • The types "2", "3" and "4" records provide basic information about each combined commodity:


    • The type "2" record -- also called the first combined commodity record -- specifies which products ("product families" or "commodities") are grouped together in this combined commodity, and specifies the performance bond currency in which the performance bond requirement is denominated. In the standard-format files, it also provides the settlement currency for all products in the combined commodity and the currency conversion rate to use for that currency.


    • The type "3" record -- also called the second combined commodity record -- provides data specifying how the intracommodity (intermonth) spread charge is calculated. For the standard table-driven, method "10" calculation, it provides the intracommodity spread tier definitions. It also includes the initial to maintenance ratios for the different types of customer accounts.


    • The type "4" record -- also called the third combined commodity record -- provides data specifying how the spot (delivery) charge is calculated. It also provides the short option minimum charge rate and the risk maintenance performance bond adjustment factors for the different customer account types.


  • The types "B", "C", "E", "S" and "V" records are considered subrecords of the types "2", "3" and "4" records for the combined commodity:


    • Type "B" records -- SPAN risk array calculation parameters records -- contain parameters such as the price scan range, volatility scan range, expiration date and time to expiration for each future and each option series. This data is not required for the performance bond calculation, except for the important delta-scaling factors. Reading the delta-scaling factors from the type "B" records, and using them in the SPAN calculation, are critical to properly calculate SPAN requirements for portfolios including the CME's E-Mini and standard S&P 500 futures and options, the CME's Eurodollar contracts, and the Chicago Board of Trade's interest rate futures and options.


    • Type "C" records contain specific "tier to tier" intracommodity spreads -- this is the table of intracommodity spreads in the table-driven calculation.


    • The new Type "E" records contain specific "series to series" intracommodity spreads -- part of the new enhancement to intracommodity spreading which allows both series-to-series and tier-to-tier spreading.


    • Type "S" records provide specifications for tiered scanning where tiered scanning is used -- for example, for the CBOT's catastrophic insurance products.


    • Type "V" records, if present, pertain to the CME's TRAKRSSM futures and indicate that there is a financing cost associated with rolling each position from one day to the next.  They provide the rates for the determination of this "Daily Adjustment" cash flow, and also provide parameters which drive the determination of the scan risk using the "Value Maintenance Method" for certain types of customer portfolios.

  • Type "5" records specify the combined commodity groups and the combined commodities which are in each group.


  • The type "6" records provide data about intercommodity spreads.


  • Type "8" records provide the risk array values, the composite delta, and the price for each contract. They may also contain the base (starting-point) volatility for each option contract.


  • Type "9" records contain data about physical debt securities -- for example, U.S. Treasury bills, bonds, notes, etc. - which will be margined on a futures-equivalent basis. In other words, by converting the physical position into an equivalent futures position, which is then processed in SPAN like any other futures position.


  • Types "X", "Y" and "Z" contain parameters which drive two new special features of SPAN used for processing options on combinations -- the split allocation method, and the delta-split allocation method.


  • Type "T" records are used in the expanded unpacked format to specify currency conversion rates.


  • Type "R" records provide commodity redefinition instructions which allow a product on one exchange to be redefined to be part of a combined commodity on another exchange. In the future, the combined commodity will be defined as part of the exchange complex, not the exchange, and this feature will no longer be needed.



How was your SPAN Site Experience? Submit Feedback

Copyright © 2024 CME Group Inc. All rights reserved.