Energy Hedge Fund Center

Commodities gain on Greek debt deal

jeroff — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:21:48 +0000

Commodities markets jumped higher as euro-zone finance ministers approved a second bailout for Greece. Copper, gold and other metals posted gains, while crude oil surged to a nine-month high after European leaders approved a €130 billion ($172 billion) bailout that would allow Greece to avoid defaulting on debt payments due next month. The deal, which ... Read More

Commodities poised for a new rally

jeroff — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:21:34 +0000

The market has had an impressive run since the start of the year, but one sector that has lagged is the commodities sector. Unlike general stocks, commodities are still quite a ways away from their 2011 highs.
Recession fears and a surging dollar contributed to the weakness in commodities last year. But a number of factors are starting to show the tide potentially turning for the commodities …
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Are commodity merchants "swap dealers" by any other name?

jeroff — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:21:14 +0000

Big energy companies like Royal Dutch Shell and commodity merchants like Cargill have a simple argument in pushing back against looming new swap market rules: We’re not a bank, so don’t regulate us like one. But their efforts to avoid being branded a "swap dealer," a designation that brings with it greater scrutiny and onerous ... Read More

BP: How to risk manage a potential spill settlement

jeroff — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:00:05 +0000

BP is facing a large potential fine from the US government over the Deepwater Horizon spill. An astute trader could reduce the risk of a larger-than-expected settlement with a protective put, helping guard against downside risk.

Commodity CFTC: Speculative bets on crude at nine-month high

jeroff — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:00:04 +0000

Speculators increased bets on rising commodity prices to a five-month high, primarily driven by the ongoing rally in WTI crude. Silver and copper longs increased at the expense of gold while worries about Brazil’s crop output raised bets on soybeans.

How closed are China’s commodity futures markets?

jeroff — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:44:43 +0000

Chinese authorities keep a tight grip on the country’s commodity exchanges as part of efforts to deter speculators from driving up food and resource prices.
The three commodity futures exchanges, in Shanghai, Dalian and Zhengzhou have only a small window to foreign participation. Financial institutions are barred from participating, and brokers cannot take positions…………………………….
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Oil, copper jump on China easing, Greece hopes

jeroff — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:44:26 +0000

Oil rose to multi-month highs and copper rebounded on Monday, as investors flocked to riskier assets after China’s first bank reserve requirement cut for this year spurred hopes for improved liquidity in the world’s top importer of most commodities. The euro’s gains on hopes the region’s finance ministers will approve a second bailout for Greece ... Read More

Oil prices hit nine-month peaks after Iran halts exports

jeroff — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:44:06 +0000

Oil prices hit nine-month highs on Monday after Iran halted sales to France and Britain, and as China eased credit policy amid expectations of a bailout deal for Greece, analysts said. The Brent and New York contracts reached $121.15 and $105.44 a barrel in early trading on Monday, the highest levels since May 5, 2011………………………………………..Full ... Read More

Speculators boost bullish wagers to highest since September: Commodities

jeroff — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:46:37 +0000

Hedge funds increased commodity bets to the highest in almost five months on signs that a rescue plan for Greece and faster U.S. growth will buoy demand as supplies shrink for everything from soybeans to copper. Money managers boosted net-long position across 18 U.S. futures and options by 2.9 percent to 956,313 contracts in the ... Read More

Big commodity players take their chances with higher VaR

jeroff — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:46:11 +0000

JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, two of the industry’s biggest commodity players, increased their risk appetite for commodities at the end of 2011, despite a dire year for the sector and a cut back at many other banks.
The banks, which operate in both derivative and physical markets, increased their commodities value at risk, a widely recognised measure of the potential loss of a portfolio on any giv…
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