Energy
After the gold rush
Commodities
Low in the water
Freight derivatives
Spectron begins brokering softs and ags
Interdealer broker Spectron has launched a soft commodities and agricultural products desk.
Obama calls for economy-wide carbon cap
President Barack Obama has indicated that the administration will work with Congress on cap-and-trade legislation in an effort to increase US energy independence.
Uncertain outlook for US public power
Moody's has forecast a stable credit outlook for the US public power electric utility sector in 2009, but says the recession and environmental regulations could present challenges.
Global carbon trading to grow by 20% in 2009
The global carbon market will see a 20% boost in volume in 2009, according to the latest figures from Point Carbon.
Vattenfall to buy Nuon's production & supply business
Swedish energy company Vattenfall has made an all cash offer of €8.5 billion for 100% of the shares of Dutch company Nuon's production & supply business. Nuon's grid company is not involved in the transaction.
JI finally accredits first third party verifier
The Kyoto Protocol's Joint Implementation (JI) mechanism has accredited its first third party verifier, TÜV SÜD Industrie Service, almost ten years after the UN-backed carbon offsetting mechanism was first agreed upon.
Deutsche Bank joins DME as clearing member
The Dubai Mercantile Exchange's membership committee has today approved Deutsche Bank as the 22nd clearing member of the exchange.
BarCap executes RGGI forward trade agreement
Barclays Capital today executed its first transactions on a forward trade agreement that includes provisions for US emissions allowances associated with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the first mandatory carbon cap-and-trade program in…
CFTC acts to shut out grain futures speculators
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has approved new rules designed to reduce distortions in the soft commodity futures markets caused by speculative activity.
DNV suspension lifted
A major player in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) markets has been allowed to resume validating projects, the United Nations (UN) CDM Executive Board (EB) has announced.
CFTC acts to shut out grain futures speculators
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has approved new rules designed to reduce distortions in the soft commodity futures markets caused by speculative activity.
US and European firms in bid for LCH
A consortium of major US and European financial institutions is lining up a bid for London-based derivatives clearing house LCH.Clearnet. Deutsche Bank is acting as adviser on the acquisition, as well as being part of the bidding group.
Asian airlines struggle with volatile oil prices
A major contributor to the large fuel-hedging losses suffered by Chinese and Taiwanese airlines for 2008 were collar strategies - the purchase of call options and simultaneous sale of put options. But some Asian carriers, such as Malaysia's Air Asia and…
Aviation industry calls for inclusion in Copenhagen deal
Four of the world's leading airlines have today called for carbon dioxide emissions from international aviation to be included in any new global climate change deal agreed at the UN's Copenhagen Summit in December.
US legislators to move on cap and trade before June
Draft climate change legislation will be presented to the US House of Representatives by Monday 25 May 2009, according to Representative Edward Markey, chair of the House Energy and Environmental subcommittee.
ASX to launch coal and power futures
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is to list thermal coal futures and options on April 21. It will also launch New Zealand electricity futures on 28 April and natural gas futures contracts for the state of Victoria on 5 May.
Nymex to list Henry Hub financial last day options
CME Group is to list Henry Hub natural gas financial last day options on its subsidiary New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex). The options are scheduled to begin trading on February 22 for trade date February 23.
LNG buyer, beware
LNG aggregators are becoming increasingly active in LNG markets but buyers need to be aware of key issues during purchase negotiations with them, write Susan Farmer and Ben Smith of Fulbright & Jaworski
Choppy outlook
Dry freight rates begin the year at levels far below the start of 2008 on plummeting demand. Peter Norfolk at SSY discusses the outlook for 2009
A barren landscape
The credit crunch has changed the investment landscape for major energy infrastructure projects, as companies review capex plans and finance drains away. Roderick Bruce examines the implications
Regulatory risk hits US emissions markets
Worrying regulatory indecision in the US SO2 and NOx markets has angered traders and does not bode well for the implementation of a federal cap and trade scheme, finds Roderick Bruce