Articles by Alexander Osipovich
Global Advisors’ Masters looks ahead to commodity rebound
Daniel Masters, the former head of energy trading at JP Morgan and co-founder of hedge fund Global Advisors, has seen his share of ups and downs. Alexander Osipovich reports
Fed probes catastrophic risks in bank physical commodity trading
The US Federal Reserve has moved to tighten the rules on physical commodity trading by banks, citing fears they might suffer huge losses as a result of an environmental disaster. How valid are such concerns and what steps is the Fed likely to take?…
Commodities investing down but not out, Masters says
Global Advisors co-founder believes short-term woes will give way to long-term rally
Isda and Sifma blast CFTC position limits rule
Industry groups sceptical of justification for new position limits rule, after suing to block previous version
CFTC has ‘turned the corner’ on swap data mess, says O’Malia
New CFTC working group will iron out inconsistencies between SDRs and address end-user concerns, commissioner vows
US energy firms facing Dodd-Frank trade reporting ‘nightmare’
Differing approaches of swap data repositories haunt energy companies trying to reconcile trades
The 10 biggest energy risk management disasters of the past 20 years
The history of energy trading is littered with losses, bankruptcies and other misfortunes that now serve as cautionary tales. Alexander Osipovich looks back at the biggest energy risk management disasters of the past two decades and how they reshaped the…
American Airlines to stop fuel hedging after merger
US Airways policy of not hedging jet fuel will now extend to American Airlines, says chief executive
Fed moves to rein in US banks’ physical commodity trading
Under pressure from politicians, the US Federal Reserve floats proposals to tighten rules on banks in physical commodities
Commodity traders not too big to fail, suggests FSB report
Trafigura, Vitol and other trading houses unlikely to be captured by proposed criteria for global systemically important financial institutions
CFTC-Ferc deal leaves enforcement question unanswered
Agreements reached under US Dodd-Frank Act fail to address critical issue of enforcement
Crude-by-rail data gains in value for traders
As an increasing volume of crude oil is transported via North America’s railroads, market participants are growing hungry for data and market intelligence on crude-by-rail. Such insight had been in short supply, until recently. Alexander Osipovich reports
US power firms slam ISO New England over market ‘flaws’
Winter reliability at risk due to problems with real-time pricing, market participants warn
Non-bank commodity traders seen as benefiting from Volcker rule
End-users will hedge more with firms such as BP, Shell and Vitol as banks face ban on prop trading, say market participants
Ex-Deutsche Bank energy traders launch hedge fund
New fund will trade financial transmission rights in US power markets
Oil market faces tight deadline for Ice Brent protocol
As Ice prepares to shift Brent expiry calendar on December 6, Isda releases protocol to enable orderly transition of OTC market
Study casts doubt on mandatory futures insurance
Mandatory insurance for assets held by futures brokers would be extremely costly, concludes industry-backed report
Revived Dodd-Frank position limits worry energy firms
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is gearing up for another big fight over position limits, after its original rule was rejected by a federal court. The agency’s latest proposal, released in November, gives market participants little reason for…
Sovereign hedging picks up as developing countries end fuel subsidies
A push to eliminate fuel subsidies across much of Africa, the Middle East and Asia is raising interest in the use of commodity hedging by governments as a way of containing social unrest. But it remains a challenge to get sovereign commodity hedging…
CFTC proposes 'unassailable' position limits rule
CFTC puts forward another Dodd-Frank position limits rule, generating concerns among commodity derivatives end-users
Sovereigns look to hedge fuel imports after Morocco deal
More energy importing countries are in talks about hedging fuel purchases after Morocco’s sovereign hedging deal, say bankers
CFTC backs down on FCM residual interest rule
CFTC softens post-MF Global reforms to rules on segregated customer funds held by futures brokers
Ice Brent changes prove a hard pill to swallow
Ice says a plan to shift the expiry dates of futures and options on Brent crude oil is an important fix that will tighten the link between the physical and futures markets. However, carrying out the necessary changes could be painful for market…
Shell unit seeks to register as swap dealer
Shell becomes second energy company to seek swap dealer status under Dodd-Frank