Credit risk
Derivatives to move to exchange-cleared platforms in 2009
Financial industry experts are predicting a further shift in how derivatives are traded in 2009, with exchange-traded products expected to take over from OTC derivatives, according to a survey by derivatives technology provider Sophis.
FFA market shifts further towards clearing
Fears of counterparty credit risk have led to a sharp migration towards clearing in the freight derivatives market over the past four months. The ratio of cleared forward freight agreement (FFA) trades to non-cleared over-the-counter trades in the last…
European energy outlook
2008 was a rollercoaster year for Europe's energy markets. Roderick Bruce interviews trading CEOs and other senior executives to see how they envisage Europe's gas & power markets developing in the year ahead
The three flavours of VaR
Each of the three methods of calculating value-at-risk has its pros and cons. Brian Shydlo of Sirius Solutions examines them
Gold and silver trading hits record levels in 2008
Trading in gold and silver reached record levels in 2008, spurred on by the perception of precious metals as a "safe haven" from the credit crisis, according to International Financial Services London (IFSL) Bullion Markets 2009 report.
Merrill Lynch sues Reliant over credit facility
Merrill Lynch has filed a suit with the New York Supreme Court claiming Houston-based Reliant Energy defaulted when it cancelled a $300m credit agreement on 5 December 2008.
ICE Clear US to clear agricultural swaps
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has announced that ICE Clear US will clear sugar, coffee and cocoa swap contracts on ICE Futures US from late January 2009.
Energy Risk: video interview
Energy Risk interviews European Energy Exchange CEO Hans-Bernd Menzel about the role of exchanges and clearing in Europe's energy markets.
Demise of UK suppliers hits end-users hard
The near-simultaneous bankruptcies of the UK's only two independent energy suppliers has exposed problems in market frameworks and added to challenging operating conditions for end-users, finds Roderick Bruce
LNG pricing - Moving forward
While the bulk of global LNG volumes remain locked up in opaque long-term deals, attempts are being made to introduce price transparency and a forward curve to the market. Roderick Bruce investigates
The big finance freeze
Falling oil and gas prices, the credit squeeze and the economic slump are combining to hit energy project investment, while lack of trust in financial markets has sidelined structured products. By Maria Kielmass
CFOs outline financial challenges for 2009
Credit capacity constraints will be the greatest financial challenge for the oil & gas industry in 2009, according to 57% of chief financial officers (CFOs) in the sector.
Constellation closes credit facility
Constellation Energy has closed on a $1.23bn 364-day credit facility with UBS Loan Finance and RBS Securities Corporation.
Trafigura secures $200mn credit facility
Commodity trader Trafigura has today announced the closing of a $200 million syndicated revolving credit facility, which will serve as a refinancing of an existing one year $175 million facility implemented in 2007.
Morgan Stanley back trading in Platts oil window
Platts has confirmed that Morgan Stanley has resumed trading in its Asia oil window for the first time since September, indicating that credit issues surrounding the bank, and the wider markets, may be improving.
CFTC petitioned to allow clearing of OTC agricultural contracts
Agora-X an electronic trading and negotiation platform for commodities, has petitioned the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to allow the clearing of over-the-counter (OTC) contracts in major agricultural commodities.
ICE Clear Europe goes live
London-based energy exchange ICE Futures Europe yesterday successfully switched its clearing operations from LCH.Clearnet to is own ICE Clear Europe clearing house.
Shale shake-up
With high natural gas prices, volatility and fewer financingoptions, shale gas developers are de-risking through jointventures and more aggressive hedging programmes. CatherineLacoursière reports
Bagging a bargain
The global oil sector is likely to emerge from the credit crisis with a more concentrated pool of players, but power will increasingly revolve around China and India as they tap the markets for cheap assets, finds Catherine Lacoursière
Dry bulk freight rates on a sinking ship
A combination of the credit squeeze and dwindling demand for raw materials has seen dry bulk freight rates slump to levels not seen since 2002. Peter Norfolk at SSY charts the fall
FCStone to post bad debt provision
FCStone Group, an integrated commodity risk management company, has announced it expects to incur a pre-tax bad debt provision of up to $25m due to losses by three domestic accounts, including an energy trading account.