Clean fuels
US propane retailer hedges to offer customers stable prices
Keeping Michigan residents warm for a reasonable price is the central mission of Grand Rapids-based propane and fuels retailer Crystal Flash. But it couldn't be done without hedging and prudent risk management
Italian refiner seeks boost from supply and trading unit
Italy’s Saras is taking advantage of a well-supplied crude market and the flexibility of its Sardinia refinery to seek out trading opportunities, but challenges loom in the form of onerous financial regulations and the structural difficulties of Europe’s…
Biofuels go global
With global output at an all-time high, and increasing demand for clean and secure energy, biofuels have become integral to international energy markets. SCB & Associates explains how it offers customers the market insight and product knowledge to trade…
Official support fails to help Japan LNG contract
The launch of a new forward contract linked to liquefied natural gas (LNG) had been welcomed by the Japanese government amid hopes it might help local buyers manage their risk. But the contract has failed to take off - a sign of the challenges involved…
Enthusiasm for hedging wanes among US airlines
Airline fuel hedging was once a thriving business for bank commodity desks. But now major US carriers are showing less appetite for hedging, while non-bank dealers such as BP and Shell are also muscling in on the airline fuel hedging business. Alexander…
US airline wins Dodd-Frank real-time reporting delay
CFTC no-action letter giving Southwest Airlines and its dealers extra time to report hedging trades in long-dated oil may lead to broader relief for other hedgers in illiquid markets
US airlines hesitate on fuel hedges despite price drop
Fuel hedging from airlines and other consumers is picking up in the wake of a drop in oil prices, but some firms remain too concerned about the prospect of a further fall
Energy Risk Asia Oil & Products House of the Year: JP Morgan
Despite the sale of its physical commodities business, JP Morgan continues to offer liquidity in a broad range of crudes and refined products in Asia
Cosgrove moves into ethanol trading after GFI
After a three-decade career in energy brokerage, Michael Cosgrove has reinvented himself as an ethanol trader. Alexander Osipovich finds out why
Emissions House of the Year: Element Markets
Element Markets is seeking to provide clients with help navigating the dense thicket of North American environmental commodity markets
Tradition’s Pinchin looks back on successes and failures
David Pinchin, co-founder of Tradition Financial Services, speaks to Stella Farrington about his 30-year career in derivatives markets and how it informs his more recent work with disadvantaged youths
Fuel hedgers bemoan bank retrenchment from commodities
Delta Air Lines and World Fuel Services describe impact of Wall Street retreat from commodity markets at Energy Risk Summit USA
Sovereigns look to hedge fuel imports after Morocco deal
More energy importing countries are in talks about hedging fuel purchases after Morocco’s sovereign hedging deal, say bankers
Asia Corporate Energy Risk Manager of the Year: Etihad Airways
A conservative yet flexible jet fuel hedging programme has proven successful for Etihad
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…
Citi head of LNG origination departs
Rodney Malcolm replaced by Mike Curry, head of North American electricity sales
Exchanges plan futures in response to RIN price surge
CME Group and Ice plan to roll out futures based on biofuel Renewable Identification Numbers
LNG derivatives suffer from lack of liquidity
The growth of LNG fuelled high hopes for the LNG derivatives market, causing exchanges to launch a variety of contracts during 2012. But firms say there’s a long way to go before a liquid market emerges. Jay Maroo investigates
Special report: Renewables
This month's special report looks at the future for global renewables markets with a focus on the derivatives markets in European biodiesel and US ethanol and a look at funding challenges for US wind and solar projects.
US biofuels: beyond ethanol
Growth in the US ethanol market is slowing as the government rethinks its support for the industry. What does that mean for biofuels traders and could ethanol’s pain be biodiesel’s gain? Alexander Osipovich reports