Operational risk
Actively managing risk culture in energy firms: part one
Risk culture lies at the root of many of the most publicised energy risk management failures. In the first instalment of a two-part series, Carlos Blanco, Jean Hinrichs and Robert Mark explore how energy firms can define, assess, benchmark and actively…
Energy trading firms may rue the decline of quants
Quant finance transformed energy markets, but has been met with a lack of enthusiasm and investment since the financial crisis. That is a shame, say industry veterans, who point to a number of areas that could benefit from a renewed focus on quantitative…
UK electricity market likely to be hit by CMA probe
A shake-up of the UK power market is viewed as one likely outcome from a competition investigation into the country’s energy sector, but observers say the probe is being overshadowed by forthcoming regulatory reform
EC's Ristori worries about energy security post-Ukraine
The EC's director-general for energy expresses fears about Europe's continued reliance on Russia for energy imports amid the crisis in Ukraine, in an exclusive interview with Energy Risk
Silver dealers weigh up benchmark alternatives
Amid increased scrutiny of financial benchmarks, market participants are voting on how to reform pricing for silver - a decision that may also carry implications for gold
GDF Suez faces CFTC market manipulation probe
GDF Suez's bidding activities in the Texas power market have drawn the attention of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, sources say
Commodity firms need a coping strategy for Mifid II
The recent agreement between EU institutions on a second wave of Mifid legislation will only increase the current level of uncertainty shaking the commodity market. Amid this backdrop, participants need to reconsider their coping strategies, argues…
Energy firms use high-tech tools to avert manipulation fines
As regulators tighten their scrutiny of commodities trading and impose costly penalties for market manipulation, energy firms are stepping up investment in trade surveillance. But properly implementing trade surveillance systems in commodity markets is…
CFTC position limits rule blasted by commodity merchants
Vitol, Louis Dreyfus and other commodity trading firms say the proposed bona fide hedge exemptions in the CFTC's revived position limits rule are too narrow and discriminate against merchants
Derivatives dealer rule worries Canadian energy firms
Companies such as Suncor and TransAlta fear 'huge' costs if they are obliged to register as derivatives dealers and clear all their trades under new rules being considered by Canadian regulators
Fragmentation seen holding back Canadian oil derivatives
The existence of several rival price indexes for Western Canadian Select is hindering the growth of financial trading in heavy crude oil from Alberta, market participants say
Energy Risk Asia Awards open for submissions
Energy Risk is now accepting submissions for its highly-prized Energy Risk Asia Awards, which will be featured in our September 2014 issue
BNP Paribas hires former JP Morgan commodity salesman
David Samuels joins BNP Paribas to become New York-based head of Americas commodity sales, two months after leaving JP Morgan
Oil benchmarks should diverge in coming year, says BAML’s Blanch
A spike in North American oil production and seasonal changes in demand should see WTI fall sharply later this year – a contrast with Brent, which is exceptionally stable, says BAML global head of commodities research in an exclusive video
Dodd-Frank swap dealer rules tricky, says Cargill compliance head
A lack of guidance on the swap dealer provisions of the US Dodd-Frank Act is turning compliance into a guessing game for swap dealers such as Cargill Risk Management, suggests the firm's chief compliance officer in a video interview
UK competition probe will 'rebuild trust' says EDF Energy chief
Vincent de Rivaz, the chief executive of supplier EDF Energy, says he supports a proposal by Ofgem to refer the UK energy market to the Competition and Markets Authority
Commodity traders won’t replace banks, says Citi’s Staley
Citi head of global commodities “doesn’t lay awake at night awaiting a full-scale assault” from non-bank companies, such as oil majors and commodity trading houses
Energy Risk Awards 2014
The Energy Risk Awards recognise excellence throughout the global commodity markets. You can read all the details of the winning companies by clicking the links found in this page
Newcomer of the Year: Atlantic Brokers
Having started from scratch in February 2013, London-based Atlantic Brokers has managed to grab an impressive market share in European physical and financial coal
Broker of the Year: Icap Energy
New rules and client malaise are posing challenges for energy brokers, but Icap Energy has delivered continuity in terms of quality of execution and the way it has handled regulatory change
Energy Finance House of the Year: SG CIB
Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking has enjoyed a big 18 months in energy finance, completing a swath of bumper-sized transactions
ETRM Software House of the Year: Allegro Development
Allegro Development's focus on enterprise-wide efficiency is winning it new clients and bolstering its core ETRM offering
Exchange & Clearing House of the Year: EEX & ECC
The European Energy Exchange and European Commodity Clearing are positioning themselves for growth in their core markets, but also for fresh opportunities much further afield
Weather House of the Year: Swiss Re
Swiss Re has continued to innovate in weather risk management during the past year, playing a key role in a landmark hydropower transaction with the World Bank