Feature/Commodities
Liquidity forces energy firms to get creative with risk management
In some corners of the over-the-counter energy market, liquidity has become increasingly thin during the past few years. As a result, firms need to think more creatively about how they handle liquidity, say risk managers. Stella Farrington reports
Asian LNG buyers seek more flexible terms
Countries including Japan and India are venting their frustration at the hefty premiums and inflexible terms they face in the global liquefied natural gas market. While there are signs things are beginning to change, participants say any further shifts…
Dodd-Frank commodity option rules sow confusion among energy firms
Confusion over CFTC rules is tying US energy firms in knots, as they struggle to determine whether their physically settled commodity options need to comply with critical rules issued under the US Dodd-Frank Act. Alexander Osipovich reports
Asia Energy Finance House of the Year: SG CIB
SG CIB has been involved in a raft of eye-catching energy finance deals across Asia during the past year
Asia Deal of the Year: Goldman Sachs
Sydney-based Origin Energy was able to raise $500 million against non-core assets in two structured deals by Goldman Sachs
Asia Corporate Energy Risk Manager of the Year: Etihad Airways
A conservative yet flexible jet fuel hedging programme has proven successful for Etihad
Asia ETRM Software House of the Year: Aspect Enterprise Solutions
Aspect delivers its software in a way that significantly speeds up implementation and processing time
Asia Technology House of the Year: ZE PowerGroup
ZE PowerGroup's Zema data management software suite is gaining a firm foothold in Asia
Asia Broker of the Year: BNP Paribas Commodity Futures
Strong links with trade finance group mean brokerage clients have access to impressive variety of services
Asia Commodity Derivatives House of the Year: Deutsche Bank
Despite cutbacks in Europe and the US, Deutsche Bank’s Asia commodities franchise continues to impress
Asia Oil & Natural Gas House of the Year: Citi
Citi has worked hard to rebuild its oil business and is one of very few banks that remain active in physical LNG
Asia Exchange of the Year: Dubai Mercantile Exchange
Steady growth and big ambition are on show at the Dubai Mercantile Exchange
Asia Commodity Research House of the Year: SG CIB
Accurate forecasting and insightful analysis prove a winning formula for SG CIB
E.on trading arm makes changes at the top
Fontaine leaves BNP Paribas; GDF Suez hires Standard Bank coal head; Trafigura opens Moscow office; LME names new CEO; Morgan Stanley hires oil trader
Commodity trading houses face questions over systemic risk
The rapid growth of commodity trading houses has led critics to question whether these firms have become a source of systemic risk. But trading houses strongly reject such arguments, and suggest they are little more than paper tigers. Alexander Osipovich…
Linn Energy SEC inquiry sparks hedge accounting debate
Linn Energy, once fêted as a leader in risk management, is under scrutiny by US regulators for its derivatives accounting practices – something that is casting a shadow over other master limited partnerships in the upstream oil and gas business, finds…
European power traders look to different sources of data
With renewables accounting for a significant and growing proportion of Europe's electricity production, energy traders are increasingly turning to different sources of data to help them gauge the impact. Gillian Carr reports
Head oil trader leaves Barclays
Senior energy trader exits JP Morgan; New Morgan Stanley gas origination team; Giancarlo nominated for CFTC role; Costantino joins Cargill; Noble nabs Shell power trader
Banks’ physical commodity trading comes under scrutiny
Amid a review of a 2003 determination by the Federal Reserve, the involvement of US banks in physical commodities has come under fire from regulators, politicians and the media. Could they really be forced to exit physical trading? Alexander Osipovich…
Energy firms find Emir thresholds too close for comfort
The European Market Infrastructure Regulation will force non-financial counterparties to clear trades in over-the-counter derivatives once they reach a set of notional thresholds. And despite their original expectations, many energy companies could be…
EPA rules may create new opportunities for US carbon traders
The US government is planning to use the Environmental Protection Agency to combat climate change, in a move that could create new opportunities for carbon traders, according to lawyers and analysts. Alexander Osipovich reports
The importance of trading to smart energy business models
Expertise in energy trading is vital to the success of smart energy business models, which rely on integrating decentralised generation assets with the wholesale energy market. That presents an opportunity for firms with the right skills, argue Jim…
European regulators get to grips with Remit monitoring
By mid-2014, the Regulation on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency is expected to see European energy market participants reporting masses of information about their trading activity to regulators. How do regulators intend to use this data…
Noble Group swipes E.on and JP Morgan heads
Morgan Stanley commodity marketing head leaves; APX names new chief executive; Citi expands European power and gas sales; Clean Energy hires senior energy trader; Barclays names head of US power and gas trading