Policy risk
Banks retreat from commodity derivatives
Increasing capital requirements and other regulatory constraints are cutting the headcount and risk-taking ability of banks in commodity and energy derivatives. Might this diminished role pave the way for less regulated participants to take their place?…
Banks cut commodity VAR as regulatory reform bites
Basel capital rules and regulatory reform stymie risk appetite of major banks in commodities
CFTC may alter stance on physical gas deals
Agency expected to respond to natural gas industry fears about Dodd-Frank swap definition
CFTC offers last-minute Dodd-Frank relief
Agency eases compliance burden for commodity and energy firms
Oil price reporting agencies' principles won't deter manipulation, say critics
International Organization of Securities Commissions principles for oil price reporting agencies fail to silence critics
As banks retreat who will dominate US power trading?
Squeezed by the Volcker rule and Basel III, banks have been pulling back from US electricity markets. Who will become the new power-trading champions, and should hedgers be worried about liquidity? Alexander Osipovich reports
Position limits rejection lifts compliance burden
Rejection of Commodity Futures Trading Commission rule brings short-term relief and longer-term uncertainty, say consultants
Energy Risk Europe: EC official questions energy industry estimates of clearing costs
Recent industry estimates of the cost of clearing are met with scepticism during a roundtable discussion at Energy Risk Europe
Counterparties abandon US public utilities over Dodd-Frank fears
Publicly owned utilities say a growing number of energy companies are refusing to trade with them ahead of the deadline for swap dealer registration
Experts question shift in Mexico oil hedging strategy
Use of put spreads in oil hedging programme leaves Mexico dangerously exposed to low oil prices if global economy sinks
Energy Risk interview: Bharat Petroleum's hedging programme
RK Mehra, executive director (international trade) at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, talks to Jay Maroo about his company’s commodity hedging programme, corporate hedging in India and the likely effect of any regulatory changes
Outlook for commodity trading in Asia
Commodities trading in Asia has grown significantly with corporates looking eastwards for new opportunities and growth. But an uncertain global climate and regulatory differences provide challenges. Gillian Carr reports
Energy firms gear up for new data management requirements
Upcoming regulatory reporting requirements will mean a vast increase in the amount of data being handled by energy companies and most will require updates to their existing systems. Gillian Carr speaks to industry experts about what to expect
US ban on crude exports receives fresh scrutiny
The shale revolution has led to talk of easing the decades-old restrictions on the export of US crude oil – but how likely is that to happen? Alexander Osipovich reports
Australia and EU carbon schemes to be linked, Australian carbon floor price dropped
Australia and the EU have made plans to link their carbon trading scheme from 2015 and Australia will drop its controversial carbon floor price.
Ruling sets back US emissions trading
Federal judges reject the US Environmental Protection Agency’s latest clean air rule, disappointing emissions market participants and shaking confidence in the viability of US cap-and-trade schemes
Dodd-Frank introduces technology challenges
Now that US regulators have set the clock ticking on Dodd-Frank, energy firms are sprinting to comply with the new rules. But adapting their legacy trading and risk management systems will be a significant challenge, Alexander Osipovich finds
Will a 'set-aside' save the EU carbon markets?
Structural changes to the European carbon market are due to take effect in 2013. However, while the proposals could revive the ailing market, disagreement is rife on how to proceed, says Samuel Fenwick
Airlines face regulatory uncertainty in US-EU emissions standoff
Legislation that would stop US airlines from complying with the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) survived a key vote in Congress this week, casting further doubt on the EU’s efforts to bring non-EU airlines into the ETS and creating…
Some clarity on UK’s EMR but questions remain
UK energy companies have received clarity on some sections of the government's Electricity Market Reform but questions remain for other areas.
Corporate statement: energycredit
David Carruthers, managing director of energycredit, a Temenos company, discusses the raft of new reforms and regulation either proposed or recently implemented on both sides of the Atlantic. He covers the steps being taken by firms to prepare for this …
US energy firms cheer CFTC decisions on ‘swap’ definition, end-user exception
The US energy industry scores a victory as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission finalises two key pieces of Dodd-Frank derivatives regulation, modifying its original proposals to ease the compliance burden on firms that operate in physical energy…