Articles by Stella Farrington
Energy firms urge EC to ease Emir clearing rules
Industry groups are using the European Commission’s review of Emir to push for changes to rules for calculating their exposure to clearing thresholds – tweaks that could make a big difference in whether commodity firms are saddled with the dreaded ‘NFC+’…
Ending Emir hedge exemption conflicts with Mifid II, firms say
EU energy firms warn Esma’s proposal to scrap the Emir hedge exemption would introduce a glaring inconsistency between Emir and Mifid II
Stricter EU collateral rules threaten Nordic power market
Tighter EU collateral standards set to come into force in March 2016 may hurt liquidity in Nordic electricity derivatives, market participants say
Energy traders hit back at French regulator over interview
Industry group blasts AMF official’s stance on Mifid II commodities provisions, bemoans regulators for being “deaf” to industry concerns
Oil rout sharpens energy companies' focus on credit risk
With defaults in the energy industry at their highest level in 15 years, firms are increasingly nervous about the credit standing of their peers. That has put pressure on credit teams to improve their counterparty assessments
Q&A: French regulator defends Mifid II commodity rules
Mifid II has sparked an outcry from EU energy firms, which complain the new rules will force them to curtail hedging or even exit the markets altogether. But Vincent Derbali, an official with France's AMF and a member of Esma's commodity derivatives task…
BP mulls restructuring of trading unit over Mifid II
Oil major BP expects it will need a Mifid II licence for some trading activities, which may prompt the creation of a new entity to comply with the incoming EU rules
Mifid II sparks frantic lobbying push by EU energy firms
European energy firms are mounting a last-minute attempt to effect changes to Mifid II even as the legislative process enters its final stages. If the effort fails, a dramatic retreat from commodity derivatives markets could be in the works, Stella…
Surveillance of EU energy markets set to increase
Regulators expect to make major advances in EU wholesale energy market monitoring now that trade reporting has begun, but some participants fear that different approaches across borders will lead to inconsistent enforcement
EU energy firms brace for Remit reporting woes
Market participants expect ‘teething problems’ as Remit trade reporting begins on October 7, while regulators offer sympathy and suggest they will go easy to enforcement
Energy firms blast new Mifid II rules on commodities
Energy firms will abandon commodity derivatives markets if the EU fails to broaden ancillary business exemption, industry groups warn
Probes of EU energy market abuse set to jump with Remit
The October 7 launch of Remit trade reporting is expected to spark a flurry of new investigations into suspected abuse of EU power and gas markets
Infrastructure funds focus on de-risking energy investments
As energy companies face a tough time gaining access to capital, a growing number of them have found relief from infrastructure funds and other investors keen to snap up low-risk, low-yielding assets. Three such investors outline their approach
Mifid II adjustments fail to ease energy firms' worries
Energy firms such as utilities are fighting hard to avoid being regulated under Mifid II and having to comply with onerous EU financial rules. But despite last-minute changes to regulators’ proposed technical standards, the chances of escape appear slim
Energy trading technology moves gradually into the cloud
Energy trading and risk management (ETRM) software is gradually starting to make use of cloud computing – a move that could improve the efficiency and capabilities of ETRM systems while also reducing costs, say consultants and market participants
Remit breaches already being investigated by Acer
Acer was already investigating breaches of Remit, but needed more resources to carry out its role, said director Alberto Pototschnig, speaking at Energy Risk Summit Europe
European utilities face 'perfect storm', says Engie's Cirelli
Utility giants are already in deep trouble and urgently need to overhaul their business models, the former chief executive of Gaz de France told Energy Risk Summit Europe
Ask questions and avoid sure bets, energy traders told
David Port, CRO of E.on Global Commodities, called for traders to adopt a more disciplined approach at Energy Risk Summit Europe
Firms weigh benefits as EU power market coupling expands
Day-ahead power market coupling has been in operation across the North West Europe region for over a year. To what extent has it helped prices converge, and what are the next steps aimed at bringing Europe’s electricity markets closer together?
Oil collapse fails to dent zeal for hub-based gas pricing
In recent years, European buyers of natural gas have pushed strongly in favour of contract pricing based on the continent's gas hubs, rather than more traditional formulas linked to the price of oil. Given the huge drop in crude prices, has this stance…
Icap Energy’s Francis wrestles with regulatory change
Icap Energy's new head of energy and commodities in Europe faced tough decisions in his first few months of the job
Oil indexation battle continues despite oil collapse
Europe’s utilities are still pushing for hub-based natural gas prices amid the recent collapse of crude oil
Power capacity mechanisms worry EU electricity traders
Power traders are concerned that a growth of interest in capacity mechanisms could threaten the potency of traded electricity markets across the European Union, while disrupting plans to forge a unified internal energy market
Capacity mechanisms spark concern from power traders
Zest for subsidies could threaten plans for unified EU electricity market, argue power traders