Risk management
“Enron Loophole” will soon be closed: Levin
Senator Carl Levin, who chairs the US Senate's permanent subcommittee on investigations, has said that he will soon introduce legislation that will increase regulatory scrutiny of the over-the-counter (OTC) markets.
Trading begins on Prague Energy Exchange
The Prague Energy Exchange (PXE), a platform for trading electricity in the Czech Republic, launched successfully at 9am CET this morning, with ten participants trading physically delivered futures contracts dated monthly for the remainder of 2007.
Nymex calls for full ICE regulation
The New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) has called for full regulation of its Atlanta-based rival IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) following a federal report which said that the current jurisdiction of federal regulators is not wide-ranging enough.
EDF Trading moves into biomass market
EDF Trading, the subsidiary of utility EDF responsible for wholesale market activity, has acquired biomass company Renewable Fuel Supply Limited (RFSL).
Amaranth report to ring changes
Release of report into collapse of energy hedge fund Amaranth Advisors looks set to change the way OTC markets operate in the US
Full steam ahead for FFAs
The freight derivatives market has attracted an influx of new players recently thanks to the spread of clearing. With more banks and hedge funds poised to enter, Roderick Bruce looks at what opportunities the market offers and how it needs to develop next
Up in the air
Rising wind power prices are encouraging US producers to turn to the short-term and spot electricity markets. Increasingly sophisticated risk management techniques may follow. David Watkins reports
Amaranth trades “altered natural gas prices.”
Energy hedge fund Amaranth Advisors exploited legal loopholes and altered natural gas prices through “excessive speculation” before its 2006 implosion, a US senate investigation has found.
FOA launches UK power market initiative
The Futures and Options Association (FOA) has launched an initiative that aims to introduce a new design for wholesale UK power markets.
ECX and ICE launch CER futures contract
The European Climate Exchange (ECX) and ICE Futures today announced the launch of CER (certified emissions reduction) futures and options contracts, subject to regulatory approval.
ETG Capital opens energy hedge fund
Houston-based hedge fund firm ETG Capital Management has launched an energy fund.
SSY brokers groundbreaking FFA option deal
SSY Futures has recently brokered a forward freight agreement (FFA) option transaction covering Panamax earnings out to the end of 2012. The deal, fixed between two leading FFA users, has confirmed industry claims that there is appetite for longer-dated…
Measuring success
A cutting-edge survey by McKinsey & Company reveals which types of trading are most prevalent and successful among utilities. Using survey data, McKinsey's Jörg Doege, Sven Heiligtag and Peter De Wit suggest guidelines for creating successful trading and…
Nuon goes live with Xenon platform
Dutch utility Nuon has rationalised all its trading and risk management on single platform by adopting Sakonnet’s Xenon software.
Italians win Yukos auction – for Gazprom
EniNeftegaz , a Russian joint-venture between Italian companies Eni (with a 60% stake) and Enel (with a 40% stake) is the second winner in a round of auctions selling off the assets of Russian oil giant Yukos.
ISDA adds coal annex to its Master Agreement
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) today announced publication of the ISDA Global Physical Coal Annex to the ISDA Master Agreement.
Purchase timing risk management in electricity forward markets
Managing purchase timing risk is a constant issue for wholesale power buyers. Pavel Diko reviews products that reduce this risk, proposes a lookback option that can eliminate it completely and outlines a hedging strategy for the option writer
Better prospects
Russia offers better prospects for industry to develop and far more investment opportunities than is widely recognised, writes Pavel Ulianov of Russian metal giant Rusal
Spreading opportunities
Volatile European gasoil and US heating oil prices mean traders must follow inventory and temperature forecasts carefully to stay on the right side of moves in outright and spread values, writes Logical Information Machine's energy analyst Daven Voorhies