Having spent some time in the shadow of electronic trading platforms such as EnronOnline, the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) – the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange – is once again flavour of the month. Following Enron’s bankruptcy, a newly cautious energy industry is seeking to reduce its credit risk, and Nymex – regulated, established and creditworthy – feels it can help firms achieve this.

Robert Collins, president of Nymex, is clear on the exchange’s strengths. “We