Risk management
Commodities Count 2006
The recent swell in energy market participants means the battle for dominance has never been fiercer, but the increased competition means ever-more sophisticated product offerings, finds Stella Farrington
Questioning dollar cost averaging
When implementing a hedging strategy, the popular dollar cost averaging approach may sometimes be less prudent than the lump-sum method for managing energy risk, writes Tim Simard
Correlation - The energy price factor
Navneet Arora provides empirical evidence that significant correlations exist between the movements of commodity prices and the credit quality of firms in the energy sector
Introduction - New frontiers in credit
Rising energy prices have thrown the issue of credit into stark relief, and credit lines are being used up increasingly quickly. How should credit managers react?
The advantage of ASPs
Web-based energy-trading solutions offer certain advantages over server-based systems, says Thurstan Bannister. In a later issue, we will publish an article setting out the benefits of server-based software
Package deals
Banks have been choosing off-the-shelf fully integrated systems for energy trading and risk management. But some feel the available software still falls short
OpenLink, Triple Point sign more bank clients
Rival US-based energy trading software suppliers OpenLink and Triple Point Technology (TPT) both signed big new clients this year, increasing their dominance of the energy software market for the banking sector.
Duke Energy to adopt Cinergy trading approach
Following the transfer of its energy derivatives portfolio to Barclays Capital, Duke Energy is targeting a lower-risk trading strategy pioneered by Cinergy, the company it is buying
New GlobalView head makes u-turns on hubs
Contrary to reports in September, new GlobalView chief Steve Gott says he remains committed to the Energy Data Hub and ConfirmHub ventures. Following a management overhaul, it seems it is business as usual
A look in the rear view
Utilities and regulators often disagree over the purpose of energy price risk management. Manitoba Hydro's recent experience with backtesting its hedging strategy is a case in point
Any fool can do it
Some quant techniques are easier than you might think. In the second part of his set of ten tips and tricks for aspiring energy quants, Neil Palmer shows why..
2005 in review
The energy markets were a dynamic place to be in 2005, with high volatility and an explosion of new players hitting the scene. Inevitably, though, it wasn't all smooth sailing. Energy Risk looks back over the highs and lows of 2005, from the launch of…
Coal turns a corner
Asian coal-trading is still proving a tough nut to crack. But the underlying market is developing, and a growing need for better risk management suggests it is only a matter of time before a paper market takes off
Utilities shift towards longer-term hedging
US and Canadian regulated utilities are increasingly looking to put on longer-term hedges, even more than three years out in some cases. Such was one of the findings of an informal survey of the audience at a utility risk-management conference in Chicago…
Refco raises further concerns
As the Refco bankruptcy case rumbles on, investors are wondering if more could have been done to prevent it, and in future, are likely to seek better assurances over the security of funds in segregated customer accounts
Papering over the cracks
High energy prices are forcing pulp-and-paper makers to take action against falling profits, yet most companies are still shying away from energy price hedging. But that situation may be slowly changing. Joe Marsh reports
Top tips and dirty tricks
You don't have to be a genius to work as a quant - though it helps - but you do have to know a few tricks of the trade. So where should aspiring energy quants start? Neil Palmer offers some suggestions