Exchanges
Just a seasonal swing?
US natural gas market volatility is keeping trading volume high. But is this just a seasonal phenomenon or part of a long-term trend? Catherine Lacoursiere reports
Getting it together
The US Committee of Chief Risk Officers is proposing an energy data hub to improve price transparency in the natural gas market, but index publisher Platts is concerned over some aspects of the initiative. Joe Marsh reports
UBS expands energy group and starts trading oil in Canada
UBS Commodities Canada moved into larger Calgary offices in May to accommodate its expanding energy-trading team, including a shift into crude oil. The firm, part of investment bank UBS, has hired its first crude oil trader, its first options trader and…
CME to launch more weather contracts
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) is set to list weather derivatives contracts for more cities in the US and Europe and to introduce two new types of weather contracts - probably by early July. Demand for CME weather contracts is fast increasing: as…
Barclays Capital in first Leba carbon index trade
Barclays Capital has completed the first financial carbon trade using the new Leba Carbon Index for "a significant volume" of EU emissions allowances.
Peaking patterns
Weather is increasingly affecting power market dynamics, with prices as variableas the temperatures. But the volatility has spawned a growing variety of methodsofmanaging peak load demand. By Catherine Lacoursiere
CCRO data hub update to follow Energy Risk USA conference
The US-based Committee of Chief Risk Officers (CCRO) will give a presentation in Houston next Wednesday, May 11, on the energy data hub it is developing. The session will follow the last presentation of the Energy Risk USA 2005 conference and will take…
All bases covered
In 1997, Norwegian energy firm Statoil implemented an enterprise-wide risk management system with the help of Goldman Sachs. Eight years on, few energy companies can rival its approach. Joe Marsh discovers why
CME weather trading volumes already past those of 2004
Weather derivatives trading volumes for 2005 on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have already surpassed last year's volumes, said the exchange yesterday. The number of contracts traded this year hit 124,177 on April 12, compared with 122,987 for the whole…
Icap-Hyde hires Toyne to head tanker FFA broking
Icap-Hyde, a London-based joint forward freight and shipping derivatives-broking venture between broker Icap and shipping broker JE Hyde, has added to its team. Simon Toyne has joined as director of tanker forward freight agreements (FFAs), responsible…
Battle for Brent rages on as open outcry closes at IPE
Open outcry at London’s IPE had its last day on Thursday, yet the debate over whether the screen can adequately replicate an oil market rages on, with IPE and Nymex both taking a punt on opposing beliefs.
Nymex to launch gas oil futures in Dublin
The New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) has said it will launch a northwest Europe gas oil futures contract in Dublin on Friday April 8.
Nymex launches gas oil futures in Dublin
The New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) has said it will launch a northwest Europe gas oil futures contract in Dublin on Friday April 8.
Polish power exchange chooses OMX software for trading and clearing
In a move to develop its electricity spot and derivatives market, the Polish Power Exchange (PolPX) will use the Condico system from Stockholm-based OMX, the owner and operator of the Swedish stock exchange.
IPE-ECX carbon futures contract faces fierce competition
London’s International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) and the Amsterdam-based European Climate Exchange (ECX) are set to offer CO 2 futures contracts under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
EEX set to compete with EXAA in Austrian spot power market
Austrian energy exchange EXAA will soon have competition for spot trading of physical power in its home market. From April 1, Austrian companies will be able to trade electricity for delivery to most of Austria directly on Germany's European Energy…
Turbulent times
The new Renewable Sources Act obliges German utility companies to buy all the wind power generated in the country on any one day. And it is adding a new volatility to the German power market. By Stella Farrington
Germany’s closed shop
Despite six years of liberalisation, Germany’s gas market is still virtually closed to outside competition. Writing from Germany, Stella Farrington looks at whether new regulation is finally about to bring change
Powernext selects Trayport for emissions trading, awaits CO 2 allocation
French electricity exchange Powernext will use software supplier Trayport’s Global Vision platform for CO 2 emissions trading, but is still waiting to start the spot emissions market it first announced in January.
Hanging on at the top
This year’s User Choice Awards demonstrate that quality counts. In a fast-changing market, the top vendors and packages have managed to stay ahead of the pack. But the winners cannot rest easy. With IT budgets deflated, it’s a competitive market, and…
Greenpeace protest at IPE fuels debate on emissions trading
Greenpeace’s invasion of London’s International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) on Wednesday was intended to draw attention to the environmental impact of ‘big oil’ on the day the Kyoto Protocol came into force. However, by attacking an exchange that is about…
UK broker trade group to launch emissions indexes
The London Energy Brokers’ Association (Leba) will launch a series of ‘green indices’, which it says are designed as independent benchmarks for the European emissions market. The association will release both spot and forward indexes, with the aim of…
OpenLink may launch web-based version of Endur
OpenLink may launch a web-based version of Endur, its energy trading and risk management system, according to Matt Frye, Houston-based managing director of the software company.
Nymex confirms plans to launch in London
The New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) today announced plans to open an open-outcry Brent futures floor in London. "It's our intention to move to London as soon as possible," Nymex president James Newsome told reporters in London.