Regulation
Exclusive – Gore calls for 2010 climate change treaty
Former US vice-president, Al Gore, today called for a new climate change treaty, which would bring the US and China on board, to come into force at the start of 2010
DME receives approvals from Singapore, Japan regulators
The Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) has received its first approvals from overseas regulators in Singapore and Japan, ahead of its launch in May.
The IFRS conundrum
Firms with a public listing in the EU need to adhere to complex accounting standards on financial instruments. Michiel Mannaerts and Pieter Veuger look at the latest implications for energy companies
When M&As fail
US M&A activity plummeted in 2006, leading to fears that much-needed – but capital-intensive – infrastructure plans could be put on hold. Merging with infrastructure funds instead of private equity may be an easier way for utilities to jump some…
A dangerous precedent
European power market participants are up in arms over a draft law in Germany which, if passed, could devastate liquidity both in Germany and beyond by allowing the German Cartel Office to force some suppliers to price their power on a cost basis. Oliver…
Compliance solutions
Compliance with regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley and Mifid is putting an increasing burden on energy-trading firms. Roderick Bruce looks at ways of overcoming the latest regulatory hurdles
Nymex abandons UK exchange
The New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) has effectively ended its trading presence in the UK by applying for its subsidiary, Nymex Europe, to be deregistered.
The regulation debate
Following a series of price spikes, consumer groups in the US are rallying against the deregulation of electricity marketswith some success. David Watkins investigates
globalCOAL settles with GFI in dispute over physical coal contract
Electronic trading platform globalCOAL has fended off another attempt by a major inter-dealer broker to use its products on their own screens, after reaching an agreement with GFI to prevent any use of its Standard Coal Trading Agreement (SCoTA) on its…
Uncertainty hampers forward planning
The long-term investment plans of US utilities are being hampered by regional regulatory ambiguity and a string of failed mergers. David Watkins investigates
No merger for FPL Group and Constellation
FPL Group and Constellation Energy have terminated their plans to merge.
EU proposals to heighten competition and risk in the energy sector
The European Commission’s energy policy review, an ongoing evaluation of the energy sector which is likely to lead to new regulation regarding competition, could have significant implications for the risk profile of the European utility sector, says a…
Bankruptcy Code confusion
Amendments to the US Bankruptcy Code concerning forwards, swaps and commodity contracts have far-reaching implications for energy company bankruptcies, but uncertainties remain, write Kenneth Irvin and Nathan Coco