Market risk
Aquila’s troubles could break emerging markets risk
Confusion at the weather derivatives operations of energy giant Aquila is having a knock-on impact on the development of weather products in emerging markets around the world. Paul Lyon reports
A change in atmosphere
The overall condition of the weather derivatives market is in flux, but there are still plenty of financial institutions who don’t mind a mixed forecast. By Navroz Patel, with additional reporting by Paul Lyon
European info squall to clear
At last, weather data is starting to become available in the European market, spurring growth in the weather derivatives market there. Paul Lyon reports
How Japan got it covered
The fast-growing Japanese weather derivatives market is unique in both its product diversity and the range of small business end-users it serves. But where are the big players? Rob Dwyer reports
Exploring option pricing with mean-reversion jump diffusion
Yijun Du explores option pricing with a mean-reversion and jump-diffusion – or MJ – model, using Monte Carlo simulation. We find that jumps can increase the call price, a higher mean-reversion rate lowers the call price and the time to maturity has…
Comeback in the old USSR
Russia is on the verge of becoming the world’s leading energy superpower, but a lack of investment looks set to hamper its development. Joel Hanley reports
Trouble at the paper mill
Maria Kielmas asks how energy users in Scandinavia are coping with medium-term price uncertainties and the threat of increased environmental legislation
A tight ship in rough waters
Power prices in the UK have fallen dramatically in recent months. What can the UK’s biggest power producer do to prevent more losses in this difficult market? Joel Hanley profiles British Energy
Cleaning up in California
As oil majors embrace the use of ethanol in Californian gasoline, analysts are warning that it will cause a rise in prices at the pump, as Kevin Foster discovers
A new cop on the beat?
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has been severely criticised for its actions – or lack of them – during California’s disastrous attempt at deregulation. It is now hitting back at the energy industry. Kevin Foster reports
Energy trading primer
Chris Bowden says large industrial and commercial buyers could learn from energy traders’ experiences in dealing with volatile energy markets
Softly, softly in the western US
Wary Californian power traders have reverted to tried-and-tested trading strategies. But, asks Catherine Lacoursière, will the new, apparently stable market hold up to another long hot summer?
What’s the worst that could happen?
Brett Humphreys discusses how using a standard credit value-at-risk measure may be misleading for credit risk decisions
Getting technical with crude
Energy market specialist GlobalView Software takes a look at a range of technical trading indicators and what they reveal about the world oil market
Brent’s liquidity crisis
The decision by energy information provider Platts to alter the definition of its Brent benchmark price has forced the issue over the crude blend’s liquidity problems, reports Matt Horsbrugh
EPRM’s list of software vendors and selected client firms
As we have done in previous years, EPRM asked all the companies in this directory to provide a list of their clients. While some have too many to provide an exhaustive list of them here, others have preferred to name a select few or just the types of…
Enel waits on liberalisation
While Italian energy major Enel Group has systems in place to manage its individual market risks, it is delaying any decision on enterprise-level risk management software until Italy decides how it will proceed with energy liberalisation, finds Clive…