Energy
What drives natural gas?
Natural gas prices in the US are at an all-time high. The Gulf Coast hurricanes and record summer heat have taken their toll, and business is feeling the effect. Studying and applying seasonality can often protect aganst the volatility of these markets,…
TFS hires ex-weather broker to emissions desk
Tradition Financial Services (TFS) has hired Frederique Leverett, formerly a weather derivatives broker, for its London-based emissions desk.
National Bank of Canada reunites heavy hitters for energy push
National Bank of Canada (NBC) has expanded its energy derivatives team in Calgary with three new managing directors, with the aim of attracting more utility and energy-consumer customers.
Papering over the cracks
High energy prices are forcing pulp-and-paper makers to take action against falling profits, yet most companies are still shying away from energy price hedging. But that situation may be slowly changing. Joe Marsh reports
UKPX to launch carbon spot contract on Climex
London-based energy exchange UKPX will co-operate with Dutch emissions exchange New Values to launch a UKPX spot contract for carbon emissions certificates.
Standard Bank invests in biodiesel
South Africa-based Standard Bank has entered the biodiesel sector with an $8 million equity investment in Biodiesel Energy Trading (BET).
BP Singapore chooses Oilspace’s Oilwatch
Global energy major BP’s Singapore division is implementing Oilspace’s Oilwatch, a web-based portal for real-time, aggregated energy prices, news and analytics. BP Singapore is rolling out the service across the Asia-Pacific region.
HSBC is first major bank to go ‘carbon neutral’.
HSBC has reduced its net CO2 emissions to zero by reducing energy use, buying ‘green’ electricity and then offsetting the remaining CO2 emissions by investing in carbon projects.
Tullett Prebon forms wet freight derivatives venture
Tullett Prebon, part of Collins Stewart Tullett, is the latest interdealer broker to partner with a shipping broker to offer forward freight agreements (FFAs). It has started a venture with three international shipping brokers with the aim of…
Decisions, decisions
Where next for the price of a barrel of oil? It’s an important question for producers and consumers, for whom managing oil price risk has never been more crucial. Oliver Holtaway finds that the answer to that question is not necessarily ‘up’.
Marginal improvements
Despite reduced production in the wake of hurricane Katrina, no new US refineries are in the pipeline. Instead, refiners are operating at full tilt as they come under pressure to expand capacity. By Catherine Lacoursiere
Don’t blame Opec
As well as urging Opec to open up international access to its reserves, politicians in large oil-consuming nations should be encouraging investment in new refinery capacity, writes David Hufton
The cream of the crop
The employment market for oil and energy traders has been from one extreme to the other in a short space of time – especially in oil. Andy Webb looks at where the recruitment market is headed next
The cream of the crop
The employment market for oil and energy traders has been from one extreme to the other in a short space of time – especially in oil. Andy Webb looks at where the recruitment market is headed next
The risks of E&P
After two years of soaring oil prices, oil majors are still building low oil-price forecasts into future investment plans. Is this sound risk management, or are they being too risk averse? By Stella Farrington
EEX to launch carbon derivatives contract
The European Energy Exchange (EEX) plans to launch a futures contract for carbon emissions allowances in October, pending regulatory approval.
Amerex's Prokop joins Energy Data Hub board
The Energy Data Hub has appointed Mike Prokop, senior vice president at energy brokerage Amerex, to its board of directors.
Risk management key for freight, says Baltic Exchange chief
Baltic Exchange chief executive Jeremy Penn has stressed the importance of risk management at a forum of freight derivatives brokers and traders this week.
LCH.Clearnet launches OTC clearing for freight derivatives
LCH.Clearnet has launched an OTC clearing service for the forward freight agreements (FFAs).
Nymex pit opens in London
Some 76 individuals and 12 companies showed up to trade Brent and gas oil futures on the first day of trade at the New York Mercantile Exchange’s London trading floor today (Monday).