Market risk
Centrica invests in 60 bcf gas storage facility
British utility Centrica will develop the UK's second largest gas storage facility through the acquisition of a controlling interest in the Baird gas field project in the southern North Sea.
Icap clears first ag swap through ICE
Interdealer broker Icap has executed the first ever cleared agricultural swap transaction through IntercontinentalExchange clearing house ICE Clear US. Regulatory approval for such transactions was granted by the CFTC in December last year.
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.
Deutsche Bank joins DME as clearing member
The Dubai Mercantile Exchange's membership committee has today approved Deutsche Bank as the 22nd clearing member of the exchange.
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.
CME launches electricity futures contracts
CME Group has announced 34 new PJM, ISO electricity swap futures contracts will begin trading on the exchange from 22 February for trade date of 23 February 2009.
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.
Nymex to list Henry Hub financial last day options
CME Group is to list Henry Hub natural gas financial last day options on its subsidiary New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex). The options are scheduled to begin trading on February 22 for trade date February 23.
Spanish power price drops 30% on plunging demand
Spanish baseload electricity prices on power exchange Omel fell by 12.6% in January to an average of €49.93 per megawatt hour, marking a 30% drop in the past 4 months.
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
A barren landscape
The credit crunch has changed the investment landscape for major energy infrastructure projects, as companies review capex plans and finance drains away. Roderick Bruce examines the implications
To be or not to be in 2009?
Commodity hedge funds performed particularly badly last year, losing over $200 billion collectively, with 15% of energy funds now closing shop. Michael Laznicka of Gardner Finance asks whether commodity funds will reappear and recover in 2009
Choppy outlook
Dry freight rates begin the year at levels far below the start of 2008 on plummeting demand. Peter Norfolk at SSY discusses the outlook for 2009
LNG buyer, beware
LNG aggregators are becoming increasingly active in LNG markets but buyers need to be aware of key issues during purchase negotiations with them, write Susan Farmer and Ben Smith of Fulbright & Jaworski
Vincent Van Pelt
Vincent Van Pelt is recognised within the banking industry for establishing businesses from scratch. Rachel Morison finds out what drives Standard Chartered's head of equities and commodities to keep starting again
One stop shop
The world’s biggest commodity exchanges continue to expand the range of products they offer, often into diverse commodity classes. Rachel Morison looks at the benefits and drawbacks for traders as commodity exchanges branch out beyond their traditional…