Energy Risk
Liquidity improves in Canadian heavy oil derivatives
Trading in derivatives linked to Western Canadian Select (WCS) heavy crude oil has jumped in the past few years, giving the country's producers improved opportunities to hedge. But the lack of a unified WCS price index has made it difficult for liquidity…
Europe's carbon market begins long road to recovery
A critical July 3 vote in the European Parliament has brought the world's largest carbon market back from the brink of collapse. But participants say structural reform remains necessary to secure its future – and this is a long way off. Mark Nicholls…
Uncertainty rules in Australian electricity derivatives market
Australia's electricity derivatives market had been picking up since the global financial crisis, but volumes have declined in recent years. Firms blame the slowdown on a combination of slim trading opportunities and uncertainty over plans to curb…
Ercot's Doggett on keeping the lights on in Texas
Despite worries about a shortfall in generation capacity, Trip Doggett, president and chief executive of Ercot, is proud that Texas has the liveliest deregulated power market in the US. He speaks to Alexander Osipovich
BP registers as swap dealer
BP registers its US-based energy trading subsidiary as a swap dealer, becoming the first oil and gas major to opt for dealer status under Dodd-Frank
Power proves a tough choice for Australian regulators
Supervisors must decide whether to include electricity in derivatives reform despite high prices and industry opposition
CFTC cleans house at FCMs
CFTC has increased its scrutiny of futures brokers and their handling of customer funds since MF Global collapse
Energy should be exempt from benchmark rules, argues EC official
Benchmark indexes in energy markets are already well regulated and do not need further oversight, argues EC director-general for energy
US power hedging suffers from low prices
Low power prices have dented the need for electricity producers and consumers to hedge with derivatives, while regulatory reform is also making life difficult for market-makers. But market participants are optimistic the trend could be reversed. Pauline…
Ferc chairman to step down
Glencore Xstrata poaches Morgan Stanley LNG team; CME Group adds former bank commodity head; Tullett Prebon hires Icap weather broker; LME chief executive resigns; SEB replaces commodity chief
US power traders expect rebound in hedging activity
Power hedging activity could increase with rising prices and greater regional variation across the US
Energy Risk Canada: Rules on derivatives dealers need work, regulator says
Alberta securities regulator acknowledges proposals on derivatives dealer registration have alarmed energy firms
Futurisation dooms energy swap execution facilities
The US Dodd-Frank Act envisioned a new type of trading venue for over-the-counter derivatives, known as swap execution facilities (Sefs). But in the energy markets, at least, it appears Sefs are dead and traditional futures exchanges have emerged…
Canadian regulators respond to energy firms’ concerns on derivatives
Updated OTC derivatives rules satisfy concerns of energy traders, but inconsistencies with Dodd-Frank remain
PRAs under attack amid market manipulation investigations
Price reporting agencies (PRAs) are facing intense scrutiny from regulators, amid renewed allegations that their widely used price indexes are being manipulated by unscrupulous energy traders. Will the PRAs be forced to change their ways? Alexander…
Commodity derivatives regulation gathers pace outside EU and US
Although much of the recent focus has been on rules in the European Union and the US, other jurisdictions across the globe are also weighing changes to the way they regulate over-the-counter commodity derivatives. In some cases, these could have…
Turning points: Nico Van Wayenbergh, GDF Suez Trading
GDF Suez Trading is already used to coping with financial rules that are soon to be extended to many more European energy traders. Its chief risk officer, Nico Van Wayenbergh, speaks to Gillian Carr
CFTC's Chilton blasts exchanges on block thresholds
Commissioner says lowering futures block trade thresholds skirts the intent of Dodd-Frank
Applied risk management series: Optimising commodity hedging programmes
The design and optimisation of a successful commodity hedging programme requires solid backtesting that meets the needs of different business functions. Using a recent case study, Carlos Blanco and Tamir Druz show how various tests can complement and…
Uneconomic trading, market manipulation and baseball
Regulators, including the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, are aggressively targeting uneconomic trading in a crackdown on potential market manipulation. Such moves have striking parallels in the history of baseball - some of which might prove…
US public utilities take CFTC fight to Congress
Frustrated by inaction at the CFTC, public utilities champion new law on Dodd-Frank special entities threshold
Energy Risk Glossary 2013
Introduction
Experts at the heart of global energy markets
Sponsor's statement: E.ON