# market structure

After Metals Flash Crash, CME Raises Margins — Liquidity Set to Tighten as Crowded Longs Unwind

A violent rout in gold and silver prompted the CME to raise COMEX margin requirements, with gold margins moving from 6% to 8% and silver from 11% to 15%, effective after the close on Feb. 2. The crash was driven by a rapid shift in Fed expectations following the nomination of Kevin Warsh and the unwinding of crowded, highly leveraged long positions, forcing exchanges to shore up clearinghouse protections.