Feature
Asia Technology House of the Year: ZE PowerGroup
ZE PowerGroup's Zema data management software suite is gaining a firm foothold in Asia
Asia ETRM Software House of the Year: Aspect Enterprise Solutions
Aspect delivers its software in a way that significantly speeds up implementation and processing time
Asia Corporate Energy Risk Manager of the Year: Etihad Airways
A conservative yet flexible jet fuel hedging programme has proven successful for Etihad
Asia Deal of the Year: Goldman Sachs
Sydney-based Origin Energy was able to raise $500 million against non-core assets in two structured deals by Goldman Sachs
Asia Energy Finance House of the Year: SG CIB
SG CIB has been involved in a raft of eye-catching energy finance deals across Asia during the past year
E.on trading arm makes changes at the top
Fontaine leaves BNP Paribas; GDF Suez hires Standard Bank coal head; Trafigura opens Moscow office; LME names new CEO; Morgan Stanley hires oil trader
Commodity trading houses face questions over systemic risk
The rapid growth of commodity trading houses has led critics to question whether these firms have become a source of systemic risk. But trading houses strongly reject such arguments, and suggest they are little more than paper tigers. Alexander Osipovich…
Linn Energy SEC inquiry sparks hedge accounting debate
Linn Energy, once fêted as a leader in risk management, is under scrutiny by US regulators for its derivatives accounting practices – something that is casting a shadow over other master limited partnerships in the upstream oil and gas business, finds…
European power traders look to different sources of data
With renewables accounting for a significant and growing proportion of Europe's electricity production, energy traders are increasingly turning to different sources of data to help them gauge the impact. Gillian Carr reports
Head oil trader leaves Barclays
Senior energy trader exits JP Morgan; New Morgan Stanley gas origination team; Giancarlo nominated for CFTC role; Costantino joins Cargill; Noble nabs Shell power trader
Banks’ physical commodity trading comes under scrutiny
Amid a review of a 2003 determination by the Federal Reserve, the involvement of US banks in physical commodities has come under fire from regulators, politicians and the media. Could they really be forced to exit physical trading? Alexander Osipovich…
Energy firms find Emir thresholds too close for comfort
The European Market Infrastructure Regulation will force non-financial counterparties to clear trades in over-the-counter derivatives once they reach a set of notional thresholds. And despite their original expectations, many energy companies could be…
EPA rules may create new opportunities for US carbon traders
The US government is planning to use the Environmental Protection Agency to combat climate change, in a move that could create new opportunities for carbon traders, according to lawyers and analysts. Alexander Osipovich reports
The importance of trading to smart energy business models
Expertise in energy trading is vital to the success of smart energy business models, which rely on integrating decentralised generation assets with the wholesale energy market. That presents an opportunity for firms with the right skills, argue Jim…
European regulators get to grips with Remit monitoring
By mid-2014, the Regulation on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency is expected to see European energy market participants reporting masses of information about their trading activity to regulators. How do regulators intend to use this data…
Noble Group swipes E.on and JP Morgan heads
Morgan Stanley commodity marketing head leaves; APX names new chief executive; Citi expands European power and gas sales; Clean Energy hires senior energy trader; Barclays names head of US power and gas trading
Liquidity improves in Canadian heavy oil derivatives
Trading in derivatives linked to Western Canadian Select (WCS) heavy crude oil has jumped in the past few years, giving the country's producers improved opportunities to hedge. But the lack of a unified WCS price index has made it difficult for liquidity…
Europe's carbon market begins long road to recovery
A critical July 3 vote in the European Parliament has brought the world's largest carbon market back from the brink of collapse. But participants say structural reform remains necessary to secure its future – and this is a long way off. Mark Nicholls…
Uncertainty rules in Australian electricity derivatives market
Australia's electricity derivatives market had been picking up since the global financial crisis, but volumes have declined in recent years. Firms blame the slowdown on a combination of slim trading opportunities and uncertainty over plans to curb…
US power hedging suffers from low prices
Low power prices have dented the need for electricity producers and consumers to hedge with derivatives, while regulatory reform is also making life difficult for market-makers. But market participants are optimistic the trend could be reversed. Pauline…
Ferc chairman to step down
Glencore Xstrata poaches Morgan Stanley LNG team; CME Group adds former bank commodity head; Tullett Prebon hires Icap weather broker; LME chief executive resigns; SEB replaces commodity chief
Futurisation dooms energy swap execution facilities
The US Dodd-Frank Act envisioned a new type of trading venue for over-the-counter derivatives, known as swap execution facilities (Sefs). But in the energy markets, at least, it appears Sefs are dead and traditional futures exchanges have emerged…
PRAs under attack amid market manipulation investigations
Price reporting agencies (PRAs) are facing intense scrutiny from regulators, amid renewed allegations that their widely used price indexes are being manipulated by unscrupulous energy traders. Will the PRAs be forced to change their ways? Alexander…
Commodity derivatives regulation gathers pace outside EU and US
Although much of the recent focus has been on rules in the European Union and the US, other jurisdictions across the globe are also weighing changes to the way they regulate over-the-counter commodity derivatives. In some cases, these could have…