Risk management

Heroes or cowboys?

Banks and energy companies alike are sceptical about the role that hedge fundsplay in energy markets. Are they really an aid to market stability, or is theirpresence compounding market volatility? Paul Lyon reports

Simulating spots

Abstract: The use of Monte Carlo simulation is becoming increasingly importantin energy trading and risk management. Here, Les Clewlow and ChrisStrickland present the first in a series of articles looking at the implementation of simulationtechniques and…

Nord Pool’s back-up

Nord Pool Clearing is the first pure electricity clearing house to obtain capitalsupport through insurance to cover defaults by its trading counterparties. Areenergy companies set to follow suit? Joe Marsh reports

The right charge

Savvy firms now accept risk is inevitable. Those that use their risk capitalefficiently outperform those that don’t. Brett Humphreys looks at alternativeinvestments to find out what the right risk-adjusted return on capital chargesmight be

Crude protection

Oil producers are divided over the value of hedging oil prices. Are investorslooking for high returns and high risk, or more stable revenues? And how muchdoes hedging actually boost an oil producer’s value? By Joe Marsh

Using a square peg

Hedging load exposures is a complex issue, and plumping for hedging the expectedvolume is unlikely to be the best solution. Brett Humphreys and RahulGill showthat sometimes, the best hedge of a shaped position is an over-hedge

A fertile future

The CME is hoping its introduction of fertiliser futures will protect the industryfrom fluctuations in the price of natural gas – a vital ingredient in mostnitrogen fertilisers. But is it a case of too little too late? By Paul Lyon

Skating on thin Ice

Profits at the Intercontinental Exchange fell by more than half last year thanksto a contraction in over-the-counter revenues. Yet the exchange reports recordvolumes for its IPE business. Paul Lyon analyses the results

The big picture

Focusing only on measuring VAR and stress tests limits the role of the risk manager.And there are great benefits from a wider view of what risk management can achievefor a company. By Brett Humphreys

Nuclear stockpile

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has come under fire for not adequately monitoring the decommissioning funds of nuclear power plants. But the NRC says the criticism is unwarranted. 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

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