Foreign exchange
Uncertain outlook for US public power
Moody's has forecast a stable credit outlook for the US public power electric utility sector in 2009, but says the recession and environmental regulations could present challenges.
Global carbon trading to grow by 20% in 2009
The global carbon market will see a 20% boost in volume in 2009, according to the latest figures from Point Carbon.
FCStone Group increases bad debt provision for energy trading account
FCStone Group expects to incur an additional $60m to $80m pre-tax bad debt provision in connection with previously-reported losses on a significant energy trading account.
CFTC acts to shut out grain futures speculators
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has approved new rules designed to reduce distortions in the soft commodity futures markets caused by speculative activity.
Eurex to launch commodity index futures in March
Eurex will be the first European exchange to offer trading in commodity index derivatives with the launch of four new contracts on March 30.
DNV suspension lifted
A major player in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) markets has been allowed to resume validating projects, the United Nations (UN) CDM Executive Board (EB) has announced.
Asian airlines struggle with volatile oil prices
A major contributor to the large fuel-hedging losses suffered by Chinese and Taiwanese airlines for 2008 were collar strategies - the purchase of call options and simultaneous sale of put options. But some Asian carriers, such as Malaysia's Air Asia and…
US and European firms in bid for LCH
A consortium of major US and European financial institutions is lining up a bid for London-based derivatives clearing house LCH.Clearnet. Deutsche Bank is acting as adviser on the acquisition, as well as being part of the bidding group.
ASX to launch coal and power futures
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is to list thermal coal futures and options on April 21. It will also launch New Zealand electricity futures on 28 April and natural gas futures contracts for the state of Victoria on 5 May.
Renewed scrutiny for WTI benchmark
The effectiveness of the WTI price benchmark in reflecting the value of global crude oil has once again been brought into question, finds Pauline McCallion
Regulatory risk hits US emissions markets
Worrying regulatory indecision in the US SO2 and NOx markets has angered traders and does not bode well for the implementation of a federal cap and trade scheme, finds Roderick Bruce
CME launches weather contracts for Australia
CME Group is expanding its suite of temperature-based weather derivatives products to include Australian cities Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
The fight is on for LCH
US clearing giant The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has insisted that a merger with London-based clearing house LCH.Clearnet would be completed by the end of March, despite a possible rival bid.
ECX to launch spot contracts in March
The European Climate Exchange (ECX) and ICE Futures Europe will launch daily futures contracts for EUA and CER emissions credits "sometime in March", according to ECX CEO Patrick Birley.
RWE Supply & Trading opens Dubai office
RWE Supply & Trading opened an office in Dubai this month to cover activities in the natural gas and LNG markets.
Ofgem closes competition case against Scottish Power and SSE
UK energy regulator Ofgem has closed a Competition Act case investigating the behaviour of Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy in the wholesale electricity market.
Oil price slump hits Canadian oil sands production
The precipitous drop in oil prices has had a significant impact on projected oil sands production, finds Pauline McCallion
Italian power market hit by crisis decree
A proposed policy package from the Italian government in response to the financial crisis could cause further turmoil in the domestic power market, finds Rachel Morison
DNV suspension hits CER issuance pipeline
The suspension of CDM project verifier DNV will cause further delays in the CER pipeline, though the market remains robust, finds Katie Holliday