Operational risk
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 evolving credit function
The role of the credit function at energy companies is likely to change enormously in the coming months. Are companies ready and how will the changes impact the risk management function? Anna Reitman and Pauline McCallion report
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
UK electricity market reform ‘could deter investment’
A recent proposal to implement a capacity mechanism in the UK has sparked concern that government intervention could stifle infrastructure development.
US power transmission rule satisfies the market, for now
Ferc’s new interstate transmission rule addresses regional planning and cost allocation concerns, but there could be more controversy to come. Pauline McCallion reports
SunGard’s Jackson moves to ICE
Ben Jackson, formerly senior executive vice-president of energy and commodities at technology vendor SunGard, has taken up a new role at the IntercontinentalExchange (ICE)
Sean Corrigan talks emerging market risks
Diapason Commodities's Sean Corrigan discusses Chinese hard landings, Mena unrest, the role of Opec, quantitative easing and the likely market reactions to a Greek default
Cutting edge – multi-scale volatility in commodity markets
This paper deals with volatility estimation in commodity markets. Piotr Grzywacz and Krzysztof Wolyniec note that energy commodities have many time (volatility) scales, which has dramatic implications for mean-reversion and volatility estimation. They…
US power bodies call for clarity on Dodd-Frank “swap” definition
More guidance is needed from the CFTC on the definition of a swap, according to Ferc and other industry associations concerned about regulatory overlap