Enron
No compromise from Feinstein on energy bill
Californian Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein and Texan Republican Senator Phil Gramm have failed to reach a compromise over Feinstein’s proposed energy bill, which could give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) authority on over-the-counter …
Calls mount for bank and rating agency disclosure on Enron
Leaders of the US House Energy and Commerce Committee yesterday called on 10 investment banks and three credit-rating agencies to turn over records linked to Enron. Questions to the banks focused on loans to Enron and whether future business with Enron…
Enron-related regulatory issues hit derivatives industry
Enron's collapse has sparked calls for more derivatives regulation and stricter accounting standards in the US. What proposals should the derivatives industry be concerned about?
Changes afoot at rating agencies
Rating agencies are under fire once again, this time for failing to anticipate Enron’s bankruptcy. But they are looking to improve their methodology. What do the changes mean for banks that will have to rely on their ratings under Basel II?
Credit risk reporting: Managing the exposure challenge
Mass financial shocks – including Enron and Argentina – are forcing banks to disclose more information, faster, about their credit exposures to satisfy skittish investors. How are banks' technology infrastructures coping with this challenge?
Derivatives not to blame for Enron failure, says Greenspan
Alan Greenspan, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, yesterday defended the role of derivatives in financial markets during a testimony to Congress. "The record of [derivatives] performance, especially over the past couple of stressful years, suggests…
Swiss Re warns on losses
Swiss Re, one of the world’s largest reinsurance groups, yesterday warned investors it expects to report a Sfr200 million ($115 million) loss when earnings are released in April. But the firm’s management will recommend an unchanged dividend of Sfr2.5…
Enron considers offer for bandwidth business
Enron, which is attempting to sell off its businesses to repay creditors, may have found a buyer for its broadband network, Enron Broadband Services (EBS). Jarvis Entertainment Group (Jeg), a Texas-based internet technology and entertainment holding…
ICE cool over EnronOnline’s revival
Atlanta-based trading portal IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) remains bullish about its prospects, despite the re-launch of a repackaged EnronOnline. The new version of the bankrupt Enron’s Web-based energy market was launched on February 11 by Swiss…
Sempra Energy Trading acquires Enron Metals
Sempra Energy Trading, the Connecticut-based gas, power and petroleum dealer, is to acquire Enron Metals in a $145 million cash deal.
Isda hits back at call for more derivatives regulation
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (Isda) has hit back at calls for more derivatives regulation in the wake of Enron’s demise. “Advocating regulation for regulation’s sake is bad policy, and could severely affect the US role in global…
AEP snaps up Enron's Nordic power team
Ohio-based utility American Electric Power (AEP) is set to enter the Nordic power market after its London-based European trading arm, AEP Energy Services, assumed operation of Enron's offices in Oslo and Stockholm.
Enron's bankruptcy leaves freight derivatives opening
Enron's bankruptcy has left a vacant brokers' position in the small but growing freight derivatives market, which is being eyed up by a number of players. Enron had been one of the main market-makers in the forward freight agreements (FFAs) market, with…
S&P states over $3 billion of credit derivatives written on Enron
Direct credit derivatives exposure to Enron, which has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, could total $3.3 billion, according to rating agency Standard & Poor’s.
CIBC has over $200 million exposure to Enron
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) has total exposures of US$215 million to Enron, the group said today.
JP Morgan Chase admits $500 million exposure to Enron
JP Morgan Chase said today that it has $500 million of unsecured exposure to Enron.
Complexity of weather deals set to grow
Trades in the growing weather risk market are likely to include a greater number of complex cross-commodity products as end-user sophistication increases, according to Valter Stoiani, manager for trading at Houston-based Enron Global Markets' weather…
Credit, collateral, capital
Christine Stanschus and Michael Clarke examine the potential impact on collateralisation of the proposed new Basel Capital Accord, and outline the top five things that collateral managers should do to gain maximum regulatory capital benefits.