![Risk.net](https://www.risk.net/sites/default/files/styles/print_logo/public/2018-09/print-logo.png?itok=1TpHrpuP)
Editor's letter
Just as a company's Christmas party is often a gauge of the financial success (or otherwise) of the organisation that year, so the parties that take place during London's IP Week every February are a good reflection of the energy industry's financial health. So it can only be good news that this year, IP Week registered its highest turnout ever. Almost 2,500 energy industry executives from around the world attended, according to the Energy Institute, and the whole event was, I'm reliably informed by veteran traders and brokers, more like the days of old in the boom times of the 1980s.
How much things can change in a year. I remember that last year, the Intercontinental Exchange's party was shunned by IPE brokers who were disgruntled with the exchange's drive to go electronic. They flocked to the Nymex party instead. This year, Ice's party was a raging success, a larger do than that put on by Nymex.
Some of last year's stalwarts of open-outcry trade are now banging the drum (or rather hitting the keyboard) for electronic order execution. As electronic exchange trade spreads through energy trading, so automation in trade capture, straight-through processing and middle office processes is also progressing. We discover which software companies are at the front of that drive, and where they were ranked by end-users in our Energy Risk software rankings poll on p.14.
The other trend grabbing headlines this year is the M&A activity of utility companies around the globe. At the time of writing, Gas Natural and E.ON are battling to buy Endesa, Suez and Gaz de France are set to merge, National Grid is taking over KeySpan and speculation is rife that General Electric and Macquarie Bank are vying to buy a stake in TXU. We'll be looking into this latest round of mergers and asking what it means for liberalisation and competition in these markets in our next issue.
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (point 2.4), printing is limited to a single copy.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (clause 2.4), an Authorised User may only make one copy of the materials for their own personal use. You must also comply with the restrictions in clause 2.5.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
More on Regulation
The standoff over separate account margining
CFTC issues sixth extension of no-action relief as long-awaited final rule stalls
Banks fret over vendor contracts as Dora deadline looms
Thousands of vendor contracts will need repapering to comply with EU’s new digital resilience rules
EU banks lose relief on model test after FRTB delay
Deferment of new trading book regime to January 2025 eats into transition period for “erratic” P&L attribution test
Sunday night football and the Basel III endgame
Big banks, political advocates and housing organisations are unlikely allies in race to dropkick new capital regime
Futures exchanges seek clarity on China licensing regime
Hazy details on landmark Futures and Derivatives Law breeds legal uncertainty, unnerving operators
Some EU banks wanted option to start FRTB on time
Representatives of member states raised possibility with European Commission at July meeting discussing the delay
For US Treasury troubles, treat the cause not the symptom
Regulatory alarm about hidden risk in the Treasury futures market misses the point, fund association execs write
Iosco delays pre-hedging consultation to November
Review into controversial practice splits industry