Hedging
End-users rush into hedging oil prices
End-users are ploughing into hedging their oil positions, as prices remain in a tight range, says Standard Chartered Bank’s head of energy and environmental research
Power exchange to launch gas contract
New Nodal Exchange contract to increase options for power traders; anticipates future gas and renewables demand
HKMEx: China’s currency liberalisation to drive liquidity in energy and commodities
China's growth as a consumer in the energy and commodities global market could eventually sway price movements, says Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange’s Cheung
Goldman Sachs: end-users hedge oil prices now for 2011
Crude will be "the bottleneck in the system, rather than refining" says the investment bank
Low natural gas prices push producers to oil
US producers move to oil plays, 2011 natural gas hedging programmes not expected to support current production levels
Light at the end of the US gas market tunnel
Low prices have so far failed to temper producers’ zeal for US natural gas, but change may be on the horizon. Pauline McCallion speaks to analysts about their natural gas price expectations for 2011
Aviation bears brunt of fuel price gyrations and new rules
The price volatility seen in energy markets in recent years has had a big impact on the bottom line of many airlines, both in the form of higher prices as well as hedging losses. Pauline McCallion speaks to industry participants about the outlook for…
BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill will not push fuel switching
Experts quash fears that tighter restrictions following BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill will result in oil to gas fuel switching in the US, thus pushing up gas prices
UK end-users face power and gas price volatility
Experts warn that major UK end-users may face another quarter of power and gas price volatility, indicating the necessity of a risk management programme
End-users adopt more complex hedging tools and methods
End-users’ energy and commodities hedging strategies are growing in sophistication as they adopt more complex products and non-traditional tools, says the head of RWE npower’s optimisation desk
Forward planning at M&S
As a high profile global retail chain, Marks & Spencer faces regular public scrutiny over its energy use and is well known for championing its ‘green’ image. Katie Holliday talks to Mervyn Bowden, head of energy management, about how M&S manages its…
Energy firms' hedging programmes give mixed results
Hedging programmes for oil & gas companies show widely differing outcomes according to the latest flurry of company results
NATS saves £1.7 million in hedging programme
Major end-user NATS saved £1.7 million after installing a new hedging strategy and energy risk management programme
Q&A: Wayne Mitchell, head of corporate sales, npower
End users have increasingly wised up to the range of financial products and methods available to manage their energy risk. Wayne Mitchell, head of corporate sales at UK energy company npower, tells Lianna Brinded about changing end user risk management…
Statoil stung by hedging derivatives losses
Norwegian oil and gas giant Statoil's results are hit by major losses on hedging derivatives in spite of a rise in profits and production
Mining companies vulnerable on lack of hedging programmes
A substantial number of mining companies refuse to have a hedging programme, leaving them vulnerable to a possible sharp drop in prices
Commodity markets face hedging activity boost
With commodity market conditions seemingly ripe for consumer hedging, Lianna Brinded looks at whether there has been a recent uptick in consumer hedging activity
European refineries face difficult times
European refining has been in the doldrums for the last few years. Alex Davis looks at the outlook for Europe’s refiners and at how this will affect hedging strategies
Overview of US regulatory reforms
US legislators are shoring up a range of sweeping financial regulations to tighten derivatives trading. Pauline McCallion provides an overview to the regulatory changes in the pipeline
Energy firms face capital adequacy squeeze
Impending regulation changes will have a profound impact on the operational side of the energy markets as energy companies face capital adequacy issues. Lianna Brinded investigates how companies will cope and what repercussions the changes will have on…
Hedgers’ dilemma over exchange rules
Pauline McCallion speaks to industry experts to find out what new derivatives regulations could mean for the end-users of energy hedging products
Reform bill forces energy risk management rethink
New US derivatives regulation is expected to compel companies to redefine their risk management strategies
Commodity position limits could hurt entire market, experts warn
Proposals by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) - now also proposed in the recently approved Senate Bill on Finanicial Reform - to limit larger energy traders' positions, could drive down liquidity in energy markets across the board, causing…
Oil supply outlook: Nigeria
An uptick in Nigerian oil production at the end of 2009 led to hopes of greater supply stability. However, with political uncertainty looming and attacks on oil facilities on the rise again, Lianna Brinded asks experts if they are still optimistic for…