Market risk
US power – capacity
Power market players in the US PJM region remain locked in a stalemate over efforts to ensure reliability of future supply. Is this laying the foundations for price increases and shortages further down the line? Pauline McCallion reports
Major disagreement over commodity trade repositories
Ice and CME’s plans to launch commodity derivatives repositories to run alongside the DTCC/EFETnet’s offering are polarising opinion within the industry, as Ned Molloy reports
Commodity trading data leak relights speculation debate
Leaked US CFTC data on commodity market positions in the run-up to 2008’s record oil price spike has fanned the flames of the long-running speculation debate. Pauline McCallion reports
Mexico’s hedging programme gears up for 2012
This week Mexico’s Congress will begin to debate the price at which the country hedges its oil exports next year
Credit Suisse: first cleared coking coal swap
Credit Suisse has announced the completion of the first cleared coking coal swap transaction, based on a new over-the-counter cleared contract on the CME
Shifting towards specialism will provide integrated oil companies with best returns says AT Kearney
Optimum shareholder value in the oil and gas sector is likely to come from a specialist approach rather than the traditional integrated oil company model, according to a recent report by management consulting firm AT Kearney
Slow return for Libya oil seen after Gaddafi topple
The overthrow of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi may have sent oil prices falling in recent days, but a return to full oil production in Libya is not likely for some time to come due to on-going security issues, say analysts
Cat product to transfer oil spill risk to capital markets
Catastrophe product looks to capitalise on perceived investor appetite for oil spill risk
US oil and gas M&A at $39 billion
Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the oil and gas sector registered a rise in average deal value, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report
US energy security risk is rising, index warns
The risks facing US energy security are increasing, according to an index published by the US Chamber of Commerce
Spanish gas market growth slowing, says OIES
Although Spain's gas market has grown faster than all other major Euorpean countries, it now faces a number of challenges, says the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES)
Oil analysts count cost of recession on crude prices
Commodity analysts re-examine their oil price forecasts in light of current economic deterioration, as the long-term economic outlook remains unclear
Mexico driving put skew in Brent, say brokers
The put skew in Brent crude oil is close to its yearly high. This is being driven by the hedging programme of Mexico, as well as more general risk aversion on macroeconomic worries, according to brokers
Managing oil and gas delivery risk
For producers and suppliers of oil and gas, the standard industry practice of waiting up to two months for payment represents significant credit risk. Brian Shydlo offers some solutions for measuring and mitigating this delivery risk
The growing influence of Caspian crude
The growing importance of Caspian crude could bring about a similar dislocation of Urals/Brent as the recent dislocation in the Brent/WTI spread, argues Bruce Gaston
Sponsored statement: Navita
Many foreseen and unanticipated events are conspiring to push utilities, operators and producers critically closer towards smart energy preparedness. Navita Systems’ Anette Nordskog and Jo Morten Sletner discuss the move
Profile: Cadwalader's Gregory Mocek
Former US CFTC director of enforcement, Gregory Mocek, speaks to Pauline McCallion about the new regulatory environment and his lifelong interest in commodities
Special report: ETRM technology
Our special report for August is on the topic of energy trading and risk management (ETRM) software and technology.
ETRM technology: analysing analytics
Demand for more complex analytics within energy trading and risk management software is driving advances in their development. Jill Feblowitz of IDC Energy Insights looks at the evolution of this trend, discusses future needs and recommends how to…
Are CROs engaged enough in IT decisions?
Technology is an ever-increasing part of the risk manager’s job, but the influence of the risk officer on decisions over ETRM systems can be disproportionately weak. Ned Molloy asks whether this is set to change
Are ETRM systems ready for more reporting?
What will new reporting requirements mean for energy trading technology and is there anything energy companies can do now to develop Dodd-Frank-friendly infrastructure? Pauline McCallion finds out
US cap-and-trade: efforts to standardise agreeements
California’s carbon cap-and-trade scheme is powering ahead despite early opposition and is now on course to begin in 2012. Pauline McCallion looks at efforts to standardise trading agreements and provide hedging capabilities ahead of the start date
Trading positions - August 2011
Energy Risk catches up with the latest appointments, promotions and departures in global commodity markets