Energy Risk
Edward Morse
Previously a professor, a politician and now chief energy economist at Lehman Brothers, Edward Morse talks to David Watkins about his accidental career in energy
Tentative decisions
Private equity has shied away from investment in energy assets in the past. But as Ian Bagshaw and Charles Jacobs, partners at Linklaters, explain, some players are now starting to show an interest
Stora Enso
The Scandinavian paper maker has found that having its own generation assets can be an effective hedge against rising and volatile power prices
South Korea hedges its bets
Corporate hedging of energy and commodity price risk in South Korea used to be the purview of a handful of large conglomerates. But a recent change in regulation has opened up the door to a whole new tier of potential hedgers. Local banks are now teaming…
Matchmakers
Post-trade confirmation in the energy market, once slow and prone to error, is becoming increasingly efficient due to the successful rollout of trade confirmation standards. David Watkins looks at how two of the competing standards have developed
Clearing the way
The Futures and Options Association has called on UK power market participants to come forward to help develop the market's structure. Chris Cook proposes an enterprise model that aims to overcome the obstacles to co-operation
End-user forum
Energy procurement and price risk management is an increasingly vital function for energy intensive companies, from airlines and cement manufacturers to supermarket retailers. Roderick Bruce investigates the challenges facing such companies in Europe and…
Shifting flows in Asia
Soaring Asian demand is transforming world oil markets. While Asian oil supply cannot match demand, Asia has big plans for refinery building. Eric Fishhaut of GlobalView Software investigates
CFTC: Amaranth manipulated gas prices
US futures market regulator alleges that the defunct hedge fund sought to influence the settlement price of Nymex natural gas futures by selling heavily during the closing range. David Watkins reports
Reports fuel supply fears
Upwardly revised oil price forecasts and recent reports from the International Energy Agency and the US National Petroleum Council point to growing unease about global energy supplies, writes David Watkins
Bank of America invests in Climate Exchange
As part of a ten year, $20 billion environmental initiative, Bank of America has established a joint venture with Climate Exchange (CLE) by acquiring 0.5% of CLE’s current issued share capital.
Wells Fargo to offer electricity price risk management, RECs
US financial services company Wells Fargo is to offer an electricity price hedging facility, enabling middle market companies to manage their power costs.
White House pushes for futures fees
The Bush Administration has requested that the House of Representatives approve a proposed transaction fee on futures and options contracts.
Crossed wires
The wholesale UK power market has struggled to attract liquidity from financial players. The Futures and Options Association's initiative to restructure the market is intended to solve these problems, but some established market players say they have…
Merrill Lynch introduces energy efficiency index
Investment bank Merrill Lynch has introduced a new index, comprised of 40 companies from industry sectors that may benefit from the global drive to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and the cost of energy.
First oil futures curve ETFs to list on LSE
Within the next two weeks The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is expected to list the first exchange-traded funds (ETFs) exposed to parts of the oil futures curve.
“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.
Amaranth manipulated gas prices: CFTC
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has charged failed hedge fund Amaranth Advisors and its former head trader, Brian Hunter, with trying to manipulate natural gas futures prices.