European Union (EU)
CBI: Quarter of UK power plants face closure
Independent business lobby group the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned the latest draft of the European Union Directive for Industrial Emissions could force at least a quarter of the UK’s power plants to close, which would raise a major…
Banks run eurozone crisis scenarios as Greece founders
With markets anticipating a Greek debt restructuring, bank traders and risk managers are preparing for a wider crisis that could drag in northern European countries, tip the euro into a tailspin or even threaten the eurozone’s integrity.
Cross-border lending extends slump: BIS
Bank for International Settlements says international lending fell by $385 billion in last three months of 2009, figures reveal fifth consecutive quarterly drop
Greece’s $40 billion bailout an improvement, but issues remain
Markets soothed as firm details of Greek rescue plan are announced, eurozone will provide €30 billion at discounted 5% rate for year forward, analysts less convinced
Power market must act on clearing to avoid mandatory limits, says EEX CEO
Individual participants in the European power markets need to be proactive on clearing if they are to avoid enforced mandatory limits, according to chief executive officer of the European Energy Exchange (EEX) Hans-Bernd Menzel.
EC’s Nabucco pipeline payout a small step in right direction
The European Commission’s announcement of a €200 million payout to the Nabucco pipeline has been welcomed by European utilities, but some experts point out it is only a tiny fraction of the estimated total cost of €7.9 billion.
AIFM could boost alternative structured pay-off market
The European Union's Alternative Investment Fund Management Directive, the proposed new set of rules for European hedge funds and private equity industries, could adversely boost the structured products market. John Ferry reports
Romania bans OTC emissions trading to combat fraud
Romanian authorities have banned European Union carbon emissions allowances (EUA) in the over-the-counter derivatives market to prevent EUA tax fraud, after ruling that these contracts are now classed as equity securities and therefore can only be bought…
Market fears two-tier EU ETS post-2012
Following a lack of collective will to determine a binding agreement at the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen (Cop15), analysts say the West may take steps to either ban or restrict most Chinese certified emissions reduction (CER) credits in the…
Energy Risk: What's coming next?
Energy Risk brings you a snapshot of what's moving and shaking the markets.
Iraq adopts new pricing for US crude
Somo, the Iraqi state-owned oil marketing firm, has followed in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait by adopting the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI) to benchmark price sales of US-bound crude from April onwards.
Eni, Oxy & Kogas seal Iraq deal
Three major oil and gas companies have sealed a deal with Iraq’s South Oil Company and Missan Oil Company that is set to increase production by 1 million barrels per day (bbl/d) over the next six years.
EU & Iraq pact will not boost energy supplies
Iraq will not boost the European Union’s (EU) oil, gas or power supply, or become a key supplier in the near future, say analysts, following the announcement that the two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to secure the EU’s energy…