EU commodity position limits too cumbersome, firms say

Firms argue that EU commodity derivatives position limit proposals under Mifid II are bad for end-users and the energy market

Energy market participants are unhappy with European Union proposals for commodity derivatives position limits, arguing that current plans would impair the ability of legitimate hedgers to manage their risk and harm liquidity in energy markets.

The position limit regime is being put in place under Mifid II – a package of new EU financial markets legislation that came into force in July 2014. For the first time, Mifid II will impose limits on the net positions firms can take at group level in