Market risk
First Dutch spark spread traded
The first OTC Dutch spark spread, which represents the generating margin of gas-fired power stations, was traded this week, brokered by Spectron.
Currency correlations
The US dollar has undergone a 40% decline against theeuro over the past seven years. At the same time, crude oilprices have risen over 350%, and were up 57% in 2007. Theimpact of currency on the world energy markets, and whetherthere is cause or effect…
Currency correlations
While oil prices have been rising, the US dollar has staged a steady decline, leading to much speculation over the linkage between the two. Eric Fishhaut investigates their connection
A force to be reconciled with
Reconciling portfolio valuation differences between energy risk management software packages is a crucial task both in system replacements and upgrades. Brian Shydlo of Sirius Solutions introduces the concepts and techniques associated with this activity
Commodities trading volumes boom in 2007
Trading volumes of commodities on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s Globex platform, consisting of New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) energy contracts and Comex metals, reached record levels in 2007, as did annual volumes at Atlanta-based…
Powering consolidation
Could the merger of Germany's European Energy Exchange and France's Powernext be the first step towards a pan-European power exchange? Roderick Bruce investigates
Mercurial talents
Led by oil traders Marco Dunand and Daniel Jaeggi, Mercuria Energy Group's turnover has grown fivefold in only three years. Roderick Bruce talks to Dunand, Mercuria's head of global trading, about the company's rapid expansion and its plans for 2008 and…
The globalisation of gas
Change could be afoot for the US natural gas market as US imports of LNG grow. Neil O’Hara looks at the short- to medium-term price drivers for US natural gas
Schroder Investment Management
Schroder Investment Management launches Alternative Solutions Commodity Fund to the Hong Kong retail public
Foster Smith
Foster Smith, head of US gas and power trading at JP Morgan, tells David Watkins his fast-track career path is par for the course in commodities
EDF Trading makes Polish power debut
EDF Trading has completed its first electricity trades in Poland, executed in the spot and forward markets, after obtaining a Polish trading licence.
EEX and Powernext agree to merge
The board of Germany’s European Energy Exchange (EEX) has agreed plans for the exchange to pool its power spot and futures markets with France’s Powernext exchange, laying the foundations for a pan-European energy exchange.
Dysfunctional market
US natural gas for less than $1.00 is a sign of dysfunctional markets saysDaven Voorhies of Logical Information Machines
The tide is high
Soaring dry freight prices due to the booming trade in global commoditieshave encouraged a wealth of new participants into the freight market. Buthow long can the party last? Oliver Holtaway investigates
Commodity investor sophistication increasing, says Barclays Capital
A survey of 150 Barclays Capital clients has found that half expect to have more than a 10% exposure to commodities in their portfolios, a threefold increase from a similar poll carried out in 2005.
LCH.Clearnet and Nodal Exchange to launch new trading and clearing service
LCH.Clearnet, the independent clearing house for power clearing, and Nodal Exchange, the first marketplace to use a locational nodal market for forward power trading, have signed an agreement to provide a trading and clearing service for cash settled…
The future arrives for renewables
The emerging market in renewable energy futures is expected to lower the cost of financing renewables and smooth out the volatility often encountered when running intermittent renewable resources, such as wind and solar. Catherine Lacoursière investigates