Commodities/Risk management
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Shell Energy chief on market challenges
Mark Quartermain, president of Shell Energy North America (US) talks exclusively to Lianna Brinded about major market challenges in oil, gas and carbon markets.
Matthew Simmons: Oil markets face ‘Pearl Harbour’
The oil market is facing its own ‘Pearl Harbour’, as a number of factors, ranging from supply tightness, operational disasters such as the BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill, ageing refining capabilities and a diminishing oil sector workforce push the sector…
More research needed on price impact of CO2 on power: expert
Power risk managers may face previously unforeseen cost challenges in the next few years, as not enough research has been done to quantify the marginal effects carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions prices will have on the electricity generation sector, says…
FERC inquiry to tackle price distortions
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has launched an inquiry into spot market price caps in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
Oil sands supply weighs on WTI prices
Canadian oil sands could become the top source of US crude oil imports this year, according to a report published on Wednesday (May 19), raising concerns that oversupply of US crude will continue to weigh on prices
Carbon trading to be highly regulated under Senate energy bill
US senators have published a climate change bill establishing a cap-and-trade system for power plants and industrials that permits only exchange-traded and cleared transactions.
New SocGen commodities strategy expected by year-end
Société Générale plans to have fully integrated a new power and gas trading strategy by the end of 2010 after announcing the sale of its 49% stake in the 10-year Gaselys partnership with GDF Suez yesterday.
Energy Risk: What's coming next?
Energy Risk brings you a snapshot of what's moving and shaking the markets with a special look at energy credit.
Duke Energy refuses to disclose cap-and-trade lobby spend
Shareholders have failed to force Duke Energy to detail its lobbying spend in support of the US Government’s carbon cap-and-trade plan.
Cutting Edge: Measuring the risk of Financial Transmission Rights
In this month’s article, Ning Zhang proposes a semi-parametric approach to calculate the risk of FTRs/TCCs portfolios whose risk is hard to capture by using standard VaR methods. The major specialties of FTRs/TCCs – such as non-normality and seasonality …
Deal could trigger downgrade for E.ON US and subsidiaries
German power and gas company E.ON's decision to sell its US subsidiary to PPL Corporation for $7.625 billion has resulted in a ratings review and possible downgrade for E.ON US.
First US offshore wind farm approved
The first US offshore wind farm has been approved by the US government in an area of the Outer Continental Shelf, with the potential to eventually provide 1 million megawatts of offshore energy.
Reform bill passes Ag Committee before full Senate debate
The US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry has approved the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act, containing some of the strongest derivatives reforms proposed since the financial crisis.
JP Morgan LNG launch shows growing interest in market
JP Morgan’s move into liquefied natural gas (LNG) last week is indicative of growing interest and expectations for the future of the sector.
Q&A with JP Morgan’s head of commodities for India
Indian businesses are keen to learn how to recognise their exposures to commodity price volatility and, in turn, manage that risk, says JP Morgan’s Rahul Eapen. He tells Katie Holliday why the varying levels of knowledge and understanding make the Indian…
Aligning the interests of trading desks and refineries
The interests of trading desks may not always be aligned with the best interests of a vertically integrated company’s assets. Charles Ford discusses some approaches that address this issue
Economic uncertainty adds to challenge of hedging in US power markets
Uncertainty has plagued the US power sector since the financial crisis. Although many believe an economic recovery is in sight, forecasting load growth continues to be a headache for those looking to manage risk in this market. Pauline McCallion reports
Iran’s nuclear standoff forecast to push up oil
As more companies pull out of trading deals with Iran, analysts predict oil prices will rise on the back of production contraints and geopolitical uncertainty, writes Lianna Brinded
Mixed views on return to backwardated oil market
A tightening of the long-running contango in WTI crude oil prices has sparked debate about whether the futures price curve could soon swing into backwardation. Pauline McCallion reports
UK CRC brings opportunities and new risks for utilities
The April launch of the UK’s CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme brings with it more work and the need for more risk assessment for UK utilities, finds Katie Holliday
Forestry project launched under new offset protocol
Project developer Finite Carbon has announced details of a new Improved Forest Management (IFM) project in Tennessee that could generate several hundred thousand of carbon offsets over the next 100 years.
CME launches crude palm oil contract
A dollar-denominated, cash-settled crude palm oil futures contract will begin trading on CME Globex on May 23, 2010 under a partnership between CME Group and Bursa Malaysia.
CFTC and Ferc continue turf war over transmission rights
Wholesale electricity market participants yesterday called for an exemption for energy end-users from legislation that could see the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) increase its jurisdictional powers over the sector.