Foreign exchange
EnergyCurves to market North American energy data
Four energy brokers have formed a Houston-based company called EnergyCurves to provide North American power and gas data services to the energy markets. The initial EnergyCurves products will be forward price curves for the North American gas and power…
Former Enron executive pleads guilty
John Forney, a former Enron executive, yesterday pleaded guilty toone count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for the purpose of manipulatingCalifornia's electricity market during the 2000-2001 Westernenergy crisis, the US Attorney's Office for the…
Looking to the east
Can power market operators in the new EU member states in eastern Europe gainthe liquidity they need to challenge either bilateral electricity contracts orthe established exchanges? Joe Marsh reports
Putin’s endgame
The geopolitical premium on oil prices is rising as Russia pursues its ‘oligarchs’. Catherine Lacoursiere reports on the wider effects of Russian oil giant Yukos’ collapse
Shell agrees $150 million fine over reserves scandal, releases interim results
Royal Dutch/Shell Group looks set to pay $150 million in civil penalties and spend $5 million on developing an internal compliance programme, following its recent overstatement of reserves. The energy giant has agreed in principle with the UK Financial…
DrKW forms energy trading business
Investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (DrKW) has formed a London-based energy trading business, headed by Neil Rothwell.
Evolution looks west with Unger
Evolution Markets is expanding to provide brokerage services to the California emissions trading markets. Leading the company’s efforts in San Francisco is Samantha Unger, one of the California emissions markets’ most experienced brokers.
US regulator doles out Enron fines
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has hit Enron and its former trader Hunter Shively with $35 million and $300,000 in civil fines respectively for gas price manipulation.
Wolverine to be market maker for Japanese weather futures
Wolverine Trading, the Chicago-based energy trading company, will be the lead market maker for Japanese weather futures soon to be offered by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).
Industrials lack price risk skills, says risk advisor
Outsourcing of price risk management will be a major growth area over the next few years, as industrial companies lack the skills required to manage their commodity risk, according to Chris Bowden, chief executive of price risk services firm Utilyx.
Power financing up one third to $20 billion
Power was the best performing project finance sector in the first six months of 2004, up by a third compared with the same period last year, according to research by London based global banking analyst Dealogic. Power projects accounted for 39% of total…
APX restructures and hires senior staff
APX Group, which provides exchanges for natural gas and power trading across northwest Europe, will move London-based power exchange UKPX’s forwards market onto its own system on August 18. The group has also made several senior appointments following…
The troubleshooter
After struggling for a year with a difficult Triple Point installation, US energycompany Cinergy brought in energy IT veteran Joel McKnight. Nine months on, implementationand integration is complete. By Joe Marsh
Bucking the trend
Openlink’s founder Coleman Fung talks to James Ockenden about the decisionsthat have promoted his company to one of the leading risk management solutionproviders
Faith in the figures
There are signs that price reporting will remain voluntary, despite the drop-offin reporting levels, but proposals are still being made on all sides. EricFishhaut looks at the progress being made to achieve greater price transparency
Nordic volumes heading south
Nordic region electricity trading volumes are falling fast, which is damagingprofits at Oslo-based power exchange Nord Pool. The company may face postinga loss for 2004 if it cannot reverse this trend. Joe Marsh reports
Bank of America settles Enron case
Bank of America (BoA) has agreed to pay $69 million as part of an agreement to settle a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of purchasers of Enron securities and led by the Regents of the University of California (UC).
Centrica sells AA, looks to acquire energy assets
British utility Centrica is to sell its Automobile Association (AA) motoring organisation for £1.75 billion to private equity firms CVC and Permira. The sale will raise cash to pay a higher dividend and buy back shares and Centrica will also use the…
Statoil penalised over Iranian scandal
Norwegian energy company Statoil could be fined 20 million Norwegian kroner ($2.92 million) in relation to a payment it made to a London investment firm for advice on conducting business in Iran.
Voser returns to Shell from ABB
Troubled energy major Royal Dutch/Shell has appointed Peter Voser as director of its Shell Transport and Trading Company subsidiary and as group managing director and director of finance of the Royal Dutch/Shell group.
Dutch minister stakes career on energy liberalisation
The Dutch minister for economic affairs, Laurens Jan Brinkhorst is staking his political future on the success of electricity market liberalisation, claiming he will step down if security of electricity supply is threatened.
California grid operator names interim CEO
The California independent system operator (Cal ISO) has hired Marcie Edwards as interim chief executive, while it seeks a permanent replacement for Terry Winter who resigned on June 1.
Fortis to enter energy trading with Xenon
Fortis Financial Services, the market trading affiliate of Fortis Bank, has selected Sakonnet Technology's Xenon trading and risk management application for its new energy trading activities in New York.
Sempra completes $1bn credit facility
Connecticut-based Sempra Energy Trading, the energy-trading unit of Sempra Energy, has completed a two-year committed credit facility for $1 billion to help finance the company’s global operations.