Feature
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
Noble Group challenged over mark-to-market accounting
A mysterious organisation called Iceberg Research has accused Noble Group of inflating the mark-to-market values of long-dated commodity trades. The Hong Kong-based trading firm is fighting back, but can't seem to put the controversy to rest
Ferc manipulation cases put limits on US power traders
US power traders face stricter limits as a result of recent Ferc enforcement actions that have created uncertainty over the definition of market manipulation. The pressure has intensified since the regulator won a procedural victory in its landmark case…
Massad says CFTC is willing to hear energy firms’ concerns
In an exclusive interview at Energy Risk Summit USA in May, CFTC chairman Timothy Massad chose to highlight the agency’s willingness to hear industry arguments on issues such as trade reporting, position limits and record-keeping
New CEO Mausbeck oversees shake-up at Danske Commodities
Dirk Mausbeck, the new chief executive of Danske Commodities, is striving to bring the Denmark-based trading house back into top form after a turbulent year
CFTC steps up enforcement of data reporting violations
The CFTC has recently been flexing its muscles to ensure firms comply with data reporting rules, handing out fines to companies such as Ice, JP Morgan and Marubeni. The moves are raising fears that energy companies and other end-users may be targeted next
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?
Asian emissions markets seen as step in right direction
Hopes that carbon emissions might one day emerge as the next major commodity market have been confounded by poor liquidity in Europe and the lack of a federal US cap-and-trade scheme. But developments in some Asian countries are giving traders more to…
Flood of oil ETF investors reshaping market, analysts say
Investors stampeded into exchange-traded funds tied to crude oil futures in early 2015. Analysts say the huge inflows halted the plunge in oil prices, at least temporarily, and enabled significant producer hedging. But not everyone agrees
Former enforcement chief takes top job at Ferc
BAML promotes Ahmad to co-head; Coolidge leaves Velite; Black joins Wells Fargo; StanChart loses sales head; Freepoint adds oil traders
BNP Paribas's Flax calm about impact of regulation
Regulation is making life more difficult for bank commodity desks, but Catherine Flax, BNP Paribas's head of commodity derivatives for the Americas, is keeping a cool head
EU capital requirements worry commodity trading firms
The finalisation of Mifid II in Europe has rekindled a debate over whether commodity trading firms should be subject to capital requirements. Firms are lobbying strongly against the idea, but regulators and the European Commission will have the final say
US shale boom poses challenge to Henry Hub benchmark
Henry Hub, the US natural gas benchmark, is being called a "broken proxy" as the shale revolution boosts production in the northeast US. But potential alternatives, such as Pennsylvania's Dominion South, will find it difficult to seize Henry's crown
Hedge fund case tests Ferc's anti-manipulation drive
A US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission probe into a little-known energy hedge fund has turned into an unusual public standoff. Now, the fund's founders are girding themselves for a long legal battle, which may set an important precedent for US energy…
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
Socar snaps up Phibro's London-based trading team
DME's Fix moves to Singapore; EDF Trading names North America head; Glencore oil veteran departs; Goldman loses commodity heads; BGC starts US base metals desk
Risk and Energy Risk Commodity Rankings 2015 photos
Winners of the 2015 Risk and Energy Risk Commodity Rankings were honoured on February 19 at a champagne reception in London’s West End. Energy Risk offers a sneak peek
Bank and investor exodus worsened oil rout, traders say
The role of financial trading in the recent collapse of crude oil has added a new twist to the old debate over the impact of speculation on commodity markets. Did retreating index investors, short-selling momentum traders and risk-averse banks exacerbate…
EU commodity position limits prove tricky to hammer out
EU regulators are working on plans to implement commodity derivatives position limits under Mifid II. But their latest proposals have been criticised by energy firms, which point to questions over issues such as hedging exemptions and where the limits…
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
US record-keeping rule hits commodity derivatives end-users
Changes to CFTC rules following the US Dodd-Frank Act are forcing end-users to retain piles of pre-trade communications and other business records. The commission has moved to relax the burden on end-users, but companies are still grumbling about the red…
Commodities regulation since the financial crisis
Risk.net presents an interactive timeline looking at major regulatory developments affecting commodity markets since the global financial crisis of 2008