Operational risk
EDF gets green light to invest in US nuclear
French energy company EDF and Constellation Energy, a Baltimore, Maryland-based power generator, have received regulatory approval for a nuclear joint venture announced in January.
Russia permits national bank to sell AAUs
According to reports today, Russia has given the go-ahead to its largest national bank, Sberbank, to sell the country’s Assigned Amount Units (AAUs), prompting fears of a potential flood of AAUs entering the market pre-2013.
FirstEnergy Capital announces international expansion
FirstEnergy Capital, an energy-focused Canadian investment bank, has opened an office in London, England.
Saudi Aramco switches to Argus Sour Crude Index
Saudi Arabia’s national oil company Saudi Aramco is to use the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI) published by Argus Media as the benchmark price for all grades of crude oil sold to US customers from January 2010.
Industry experts bearish on IEA oil demand
Industry experts at the annual Oil & Money Conference in London this week challenged International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts for demand growth.
Gazprom and EDF announce transatlantic gas swap
Gazprom Marketing & Trading and EDF Trading have announced details of an agreement to swap natural gas between the US and European markets.
Parity Energy introduces WhenTech valuations
Electronic trading platform Parity Energy has launched real-time option pricing through a collaboration with WhenTech Markets, a risk management and pricing software programme.
International energy regulator launched
The creation of the International Confederation of Energy Regulators (ICER), a group of 12 regional energy regulatory associations, was announced by John Mogg, president of the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER), at the fourth World Forum of…
BlueNext launches outright spread contract
BlueNext has introduced an outright spread contract that will allow members to price the difference between spot European emission allowances (EUAs) and certified emission reduction (CER) contracts.
StanChart signs $500m risk-sharing deal with Ofid
A $500 million trade-finance agreement has been signed between global bank Standard Chartered and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund for International Development (Ofid), which aims to boost world trade flows for emerging market banks.
Record high sugar prices hit ethanol market
Ethanol prices in Brazil have recently risen due to a decrease in production. According to experts, record high sugar prices in the region are encouraging mills to refine sugar over ethanol, which is giving a 50% better return.
Sponsored statement: Perilous markets demand enterprise-wide risk management
Rampant volatility, illiquidity, dramatically shifting relationships between physical products and financial instruments and the scarcity of credit are stressing energy and commodity markets like never before. Against this backdrop of uncertainty, says…
Corporate profile: VTB Capital: A new entrant in the commodities market
Sergei Timokhovitch, Global Head of Commodities, discusses VTB Capital’s ambitious plans to develop its commodity business in these risky operating environments
Commodity focus: Eurex is Entering the Commodities Space
Ralf Huesmann, Product Strategy, discusses Eurex’s increased activity in alternative asset classes as market trends change and appetites increase
Corporate statement: Are you re-evaluating your energy risk management provider?
Many energy-price-dependent organisations, such as utilities, independent power producers and oil and gas producers, saw their hedges at risk with the crumbling balance sheets of several key hedge providers. The global credit crisis has forced many…
Nord Pool Spot expands into Estonia
Nordic power exchange, Nord Pool Spot, has announced plans to incorporate Estonia into its pricing area for physical power from April 2010.
Cutting edge: Visualising value-at-risk
Risk transparency is an important yet elusive goal of any risk management process. One challenge is to understand the diversification effects of the portfolio elements. Wentao Zhao and Kevin Kindall introduce a graphical technique based on value-at-risk…
RWE acquires Essent
The sale of the largest energy generator in the Netherlands, Essent, to German utility RWE was completed on September 30 in a €7.3 billion deal.
Market focus: derivatives - Risky business
Companies that are heavy consumers of energy are particularly susceptible to market volatility. For such end-users, proper use of risk management techniques can mean make or break, says Eric Fishhaut of GlobalView
Evaluating credit & market exposure
Today’s volatile energy prices and the lower creditworthiness of some energy intensive users means energy providers have to assess counterparty risk thoroughly. David Coffman of GDF SUEZ Energy Resources provides some tips for assessing risk in the non…