Policy risk
Energy traders must adapt or die, warns E.on risk head
Challenges such as regulation, declining volatility and renewables are making life tough for energy traders, says E.on Global Commodities CRO, but the industry will find solutions
Energy companies facing ‘intrusive’ CFTC special calls
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is stepping up its market surveillance activities, issuing special calls to numerous firms that trade over-the-counter swaps. That is causing headaches for smaller energy companies tangled up in the dragnet…
Energy companies divided on approach to Emir clearing
European utilities are concerned about breaching Emir thresholds requiring firms to clear their OTC derivatives trades, while oil majors are resigned to the idea
OTC energy derivatives did not cause the crisis
Over-the-counter derivatives were blamed for the financial crisis, but now the conversation must turn to finding solutions, not apportioning guilt
Devil in the detail for Mexico power sector reform
The deregulation of Mexico’s state-dominated electricity sector is sparking enthusiasm among international energy firms eager for investment opportunities. But many challenges remain as regulators create the country’s new wholesale gas and power markets,…
Market manipulation won’t be stopped by Socrates or Spinoza
Despite all the headlines about market manipulation, business school ethics classes are not the answer, writes Vincent Kaminski. Instead, it must be emphasised that graduates have much to lose and little to gain from engaging in market abuse
Power pioneer reflects on EU market development
Having been closely involved in Dutch market liberalisation during the mid-1990s, Bert den Ouden has gone on to play a key role bringing Europe’s power markets closer together. He speaks with Gillian Carr
Mexico to rein in CFE and Pemex market power
Regulators will not allow state-owned electricity and oil and gas companies to abuse their dominance and stifle private competition, says CRE commissioner
US energy firms cheer regulators’ shift on margin rule
In an about-face, the Fed and other bank regulators exempt non-financial end-users from requirement to post margin on non-centrally cleared swaps
Energy firms face Emir confirmation challenge
A looming deadline for confirming OTC derivatives is expected to cause problems for smaller energy firms, which may find themselves blocked from trading with bigger counterparties
CFTC quietly amassing data on natural gas swaps
Numerous energy companies have received special calls from the CFTC in the past year, say lawyers, but the reasons for the agency's interest remain murky
Energy firms rely on patched-up solutions for reporting
Under new rules in Europe and the US, energy firms have to aggregate trade data from a variety of internal sources and report it to repositories. While it was hoped this process could lead to wider improvements in analytics, risk management and…
Tougher UK Remit sanctions to be felt across EU
Proposed UK criminal penalties for manipulation and insider trading under Remit would have "very broad" effect across European energy market, according to lawyers
Energy firms fight for right to hedge at portfolio level
CFTC position limits rule could limit the ability of energy firms to hedge, unless they aggregate commodity derivatives positions held across disparate business units
UK power market investigation overshadowed by EMR
A Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) probe into the UK power market, which may result in a radical shake-up of the sector, is coming amid major changes to the industry under Electricity Market Reform. How the CMA reconciles this will be closely…
Commodity desks breathe sigh of relief over Volcker
US banks say their initial concerns over the Volcker rule of Dodd-Frank have turned to relief, as the rule's drafting allows them to continue making markets in commodity derivatives
Ercot ‘small fish' rule criticised amid CFTC probe
Amid consternation over the activities of GDF Suez Energy North America in the Texas power market and an investigation by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, some market participants are questioning the legal protection afforded to smaller…
Bespoke OTC reporting a struggle for energy firms
European energy trading firms say they are finding compliance with Emir trade reporting rules onerous and heavily reliant on manual intervention, particularly when it comes to non-standard trades
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
Power capacity conundrum has potential to turn sour
Differences between the EC and member states on capacity markets illustrate the struggle to co-ordinate EU energy policy and may point towards future battles
Sandor optimistic about carbon, despite EU ETS woes
Despite turmoil in the EU ETS, the notion of emissions trading is continuing to gain ground, Richard Sandor, the chairman of Environmental Financial Products, tells Mark Pengelly
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…