Energy trading

The future of freight

The Baltic Exchange has recently shelved plans to offer freight derivatives,yet rising freight rates should aid the development of the embryonic forwardfreight agreement market. By Paul Lyon

Protection treaty

Matthew Saunders , of law firm DLA, introduces the bilateral investment treaty which, though often overlooked, can be an effective method of affording legal protection for energy investments and minimising energy project risk

In pursuit of the eurobarrel

The markets say they do not want oil prices in euros. But denominating internationalcrude prices in euros is a political ambition the European Union seems determinedto pursue – starting with Russia. MariaKielmas reports

Capital calculations

The latest Committee of Chief Risk Officers white paper offers capital adequacy guidelines for energy merchants. But why should energy firms perform these calculations? Glyn Holton asks whether the CCRO has missed the point

Breaking down the model

Brett Humphreys and Andy Dunn outline a method to help energy companies minimise potential model risk and thereby avoid costly errors in valuing deals.

All talk, no action

Cancelled power plant auctions and the complexities of asset debt structures are bad news for the boutiques set up to acquire power assets. The boutiques talk a good business plan – but execution may prove troublesome, as Paul Lyon discovers

A capital adequacy primer

A summary of the Committee of Chief Risk Officers' (CCRO) emerging guidelines on capital adequacy, by Cinergy's Antonio Ligeralde, Kenneth Robinson of El Paso Merchant Energy and CCRO head Michael Smith.

The search for spot

Strong demand for US liquefied natural gas is accelerating the development of an active global spot market and pricing benchmarks, as Catherine Lacoursière discovers

US coal trading picks up steam

While the coal market awaits pricing indexes to reinvigorate trading, emissions trading is getting a boost from increased coal burning. Catherine Lacoursière reports

Buying your way out of trouble

UK high-street retailer Littlewoods has saved £1.5 million through an energy risk management and procurement programme. Utilyx’s Nigel Cornwall looks at how other companies can reduce energy costs through purchase programmes

Seeking an end to manipulation

Renewed allegations of manipulation of natural gas pipeline capacity in the US have been partly blamed on regulatory complacency. How can regulators put an end to the problems dogging the gas markets? Catherine Lacoursière reports

Speculate away

A new report argues that speculative trading in the crude oil markets contributes far less to volatility than its critics suggest. Kevin Foster looks at the arguments

Carbon across Europe

Pan-European emissions trading is a step closer after agreement of an EU directive. Atle Christiansen and Kristian Tangen of Point Carbon look at the consequences

Models of good behaviour

The development of new models that describe the real dynamics of energy prices have to take into account the behavioural aspects of market players. The problem is how to quantify these aspects. Maria Kielmas reports

Pumping up prices

Gasoline prices in the US hit all-time highs in March, and the price is expected to remain high throughout the summer. Kevin Foster looks at the contributing factors

The return of Russian crude

Russia has reclaimed its position as the world’s biggest oil producer for the first time in a decade – but uncertainty is still preventing some foreign oil firms from making the investments the country needs to fulfil its potential. Kevin Foster reports

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