Commodities
Building demand
One year after the collapse of Lehmans, fundamentals for the energy and metals markets continue to evolve, with emerging market demand, especially from China, set to have an increasing impact. Pauline McCallion discusses the outlook with experts
E.ON signs up to Iberian exchange
E.ON Energy Trading has become a member of OMIP, the derivatives exchange for the Iberian energy market.
Commodity exchange trading rises 5.4%
Trading of commodity derivatives has risen 5.4% in the second quarter of this year, according to the Swizterland-based Bank for International Settlements.
Amerex launches consulting service
Amerex Brokers, an over-the-counter energy broker and wholly-owned subsidiary of GFI Group, has formed a fee-based energy risk management and execution consulting division called Amerex Energy Consulting Services (AECS).
Trayport links cleared OTC energy trades to LCH.Clearnet
Trading software provider Trayport has announced that it will now offer automated clearing for energy OTC trades on LCH.Clearnet.
Next generation solar power could replace fossil fuels says WRI
Concentrating solar thermal (CST) power has the potential to provide power on the margin of the demand curve, as well as replacing coal at the core of the power mix in the US, according to a report by the World Resources Institute (WRI.)
Point Carbon launches US power trading product
Point Carbon, an energy and environmental market analyst, has launched its first power trading analytics tool for the North American market.
Saxo Bank lowers barriers for entry with launch of commodity CFDs
Copenhagen-based investment bank Saxo Bank has launched its first contracts for difference (CFDs) for investors in commodities, which the bank says will lower barriers to trading energy, metals, soft commodities and grains.
Shell reorganises business structure
Royal Dutch Shell has announced a series of changes to its organisational structure including the merging of its upstream businesses and the launch of a new projects and technology business.
Shale gas production could reduce Europe's dependence on Russia
Rising shale gas production in the US and Canada as well as potential natural gas supplies from Iraq could reduce European energy dependence on Russia, according to a new study released today by Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Goldman's commodity record
Record results for first-quarter 2009 commodity trading driven by competitive dynamics, wider margins and liquid transactions
Is the UK facing a gas storage crisis?
Low storage levels and growing import dependency provoke concern, but some commentators believe the market will sort out any future supply problems, as Rachel Morison reports
Japanese brokers face testing times
Plummeting volumes in Japan's commodity futures markets have forced many Japanese commodity brokerages out of business. Katie Holliday reports
Squeezing more out of P&L explain
Commodity traders are increasingly aware of the need to squeeze greater profits from existing business activities. One oft overlooked tool for doing this is the P&L 'explain', write Akhil Sehgal and Anup Singh
China at forefront of clean coal technology
China is leading the way in developing new cleaner coal technologies according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), which says that advanced technologies with higher efficiency levels and the potential to reduce CO2 emissions are already widely used…
Aluminium canned
Aluminium prices hit a seven-year low in March. Is there any bullish news for the market? Roderick Bruce finds out
Phoenix rises into green markets
Interdealer broker expands in to renewables and emissions markets to harness sector growth, and plans to act as a counterparty for RECs
Russian revolution?
The news that TNK-BP will sell oil products on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange could signal a shift by Russia towards market mechanisms, Roderick Bruce reports
Emissions drop shows carbon markets are working, says Point Carbon
A 6% decrease on annual global emissions in 2008 in comparison to 2007 shows that the carbon markets are working, according to Point Carbon analysts.
House unveils draft cap and trade bill
Democrats in the House of Representatives issued draft legislation today proposing an 83% carbon cap by 2050 and a national renewable energy requirement of 25% by 2025.
Phoenix launches platform for renewable credits
Interdealer broker Phoenix Partners has launched an electronic OTC trading platform for renewable energy credits (REC.)
Farming fundamentals
While the ailing global economy is pressuring industrial commodity prices, the agricultural grains markets have some very different fundamental drivers, some of which appear fairly supportive, finds Pauline McCallion