Feature
The end of an era?
Latin American governments are hiking taxes and forcing changes to contracts with oil and gas investors in a marked departure from the economic liberalisation of the 1990s. But reality may prompt a rethink, writes Maria Kielmas
Valid Assumptions Required: examining forward curve assumptions
Brett Humphreys and Eric Raleigh review assumptions about the forward curve and the difference between relative and absolute dates.
Clearing the way for competition
Until recently, NOS was the only player offering clearing for freight derivatives. But with the arrival of new players, competition is set to intensify. Oliver Holtaway reports
Benefits of compliance
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 profoundly increases regulatory risk for energy market participants in the US, but implementing an effective compliance programme can have long-lasting benefits, writes former FERC executive William Hederman, Michael Griffen…
Optimal results
Effective portfolio management has become crucial for energy companies, but creating the optimal portfolio is fraught with challenges, writes Colin Cooper
Stepping up a stage
Optimism over the freight derivatives market, which waned a little at the end of last year, is on the rise again, as volumes increase and new players enter. There are still hurdles to overcome though
The price is right?
For banks entering the physical power markets the opportunities are many, but pricing contracts in these volatile markets is fraught with difficulties. Aarzoo Shah, Riccardo Anacar and Antony Kakoudakis look at how to tackle these challenges
Knowledge is power
The first year of European carbon trading came to a bumpy end in May. But now the market finally has hard data about emissions, the ride should get smoother. Oliver Holtaway reports
Kick-off for spot
After years of relying on long-term contracts, LNG suppliers are committing more volumes to the short-term market in hope of exploiting tight fundamentals. Oliver Holtaway explores this new trend
Industry gets energised
Attracting some 300 delegates, this year's Energy Risk USA conference was by far the biggest and most successful it's been since the fall of Enron, writes Stella Farrington
Asia's maritime centre
Traders hope that the arrival of freight and oil derivatives clearing for the first time in an Asian time zone will boost the growing FFA market in Asia
EnergyRisk Awards 2006
The Energy Risk Awards 2006: we honour the talent, innovation and enthusiasm that sit at the heart of the energy risk management industry.
Time to get physical
For the second tier of banks wishing to buy physical energy assets, the next two years will be critical. Antony Kakoudakis and Aarzoo Shah consider this trend and examine some of the hurdles newer entrants face
A prime time for energy prime brokerage?
The rise of electronic energy markets may prompt energy companies to seek a simple clearing solution through one primary bank, rather than build relations with several clearers, writes Ron Villarin
The impact of SOX on supply chain management
Of the many changes companies have had to introduce as a result of Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, the most useful one is arguably the integration of supply chain management with financial risk management, writes Raees Lakhani
The rush for wood
The international biotrade market is expanding due to surging demand for wood pellets from power generators, but supply problems could lie ahead, writes Catherine Lacoursiere
CDM structures mature
Buyers and sellers in the clean development mechanism market now have a broader range of pricing structures at their disposal. Oliver Holtaway investigates
Special Report - Case study - Made to measure
Deutsche Essent tailors its approach to German energy markets. Will its bespoke strategy succeed where others have failed?
Taking stock of SOX
Sarbanes Oxley has wide-ranging implications for US power companies on how they use, and record their use of, market data, writes Sandy Fielden
Special Report - Energy prices - Rising cost burden
German energy policy is hampering competitiveness, industry claims
A question of priority
The US Energy Policy Act of 2005 calls for a review of existing power dispatch methods. But replacing today's regional methods with a one-size-fits-all plan throws up many concerns, writes Richard McMahon
Convergence in Atlantic Basin coal
Atlantic Basin OTC coal trading is the envy of US and Asian markets, but until recently it was missing the key component of OTC contracts. But trading in globalCOAL's Atlantic products has taken off dramatically since the end of 2005, writes Stephen Doyle
Joined-up risk assessment
The nature of risk is changing. Energy companies, well-skilled in managing market risk and operational risks, may now need to adopt a new stance towards risk management, write Rohit Bhapkar, Roland Rechtsteiner and John Stroughair