Energy Hedging In Asia Market Structure And Trading Opportunities

This book focuses on the latest developments in the Asia-Pacific community in terms of how deregulation and privatization are bringing more risk to energy companies. In the light of these market changes, interest in energy risk management has grown substantially and is becoming a fiduciary responsibility of energy companies. As energy trading, power exchanges and hedging techniques establish themselves in the oil, power and gas sectors, so then do newer derivatives markets emerge in LNG hedging, weather derivatives and freight hedging. Fusaro and James, as seasoned market practitioners in the region, focus on these market changes and examine the future of Asian energy hedging.

Addressing the important issues of worldwide energy price risk management, this work assembles the leading industry figures to explain general theories and practices for hedging risk, and specific methods to effectively manage risk in markets such as coal, natural gas, electricity, and hydropower.

China has developed sophisticated hedging strategies for managing the international petroleum market, maintaining a favorable energy mix, pursuing overseas equity oil production, building a state-owned tanker fleet and strategic petroleum reserve, establishing cross-border pipelines, and diversifying its energy resources and routes. Though it cannot be “secured,” China’s energy security can be “insured” by marrying government concern with commercial initiatives. This book identifies the interrelationship between security and profit that better describes China’s energy-security policy.

This is a comprehensive survey of Singapore’s dominating regional role as provider of petroleum refining, blending, and storage services, exporter of refined petroleum products, port of call for bunker and jet fuels, and spot market for the Asia-Pacific petroleum trade. Substantively based on industry data sources, this book is conceived of as an initial step in a continued and independent research interest on one of the Pacific Basin’s most dynamic and strategic industries.

Commodity markets present several challenges for quantitative modeling. These include high volatilities, small sample data sets, and physical, operational complexity. In addition, the set of traded products in commodity markets is more limited than in financial or equity markets, making value extraction through trading more difficult. These facts make it very easy for modeling efforts to run into serious problems, as many models are very sensitive to noise and hence can easily fail in practice. Modeling and Valuation of Energy Structures is a comprehensive guide to quantitative and statistical approaches that have been successfully employed in support of trading operations, reflecting the author's 17 years of experience as a front-office 'quant'. The major theme of the book is that simpler is usually better, a message that is drawn out through the reality of incomplete markets, small samples, and informational constraints. The necessary mathematical tools for understanding these issues are thoroughly developed, with many techniques (analytical, econometric, and numerical) collected in a single volume for the first time. A particular emphasis is placed on the central role that the underlying market resolution plays in valuation. Examples are provided to illustrate that robust, approximate valuations are to be preferred to overly ambitious attempts at detailed qualitative modeling.

Price Risk Management and Trading. Energy risk management expert, Tom James, does it again. His latest book is a timely addition to the rapidly developing energy trading markets. This book should be on every energy trader, risk manager and corporate planer's desk. it is an easy read as Tom goes into great detail to explain the intricacies of this market and its various unique elements. - Peter C. Fusaro, Chairman, Global Change Associates Inc., Best-selling Author and Energy Expert This sensible and practical guide is essential for those seeking an understanding of commerce in energy derivatives. beyond merely informative, this hand book for the practitioner details the finer points of the use of derivatives as tools for price-risk management. No energy trading desk should be without it. - Ethan L. Cohen, Senior Director, Utility and Energy Technology, UtiliPoint International Inc. Energy markets are much more volatile than other commodity markets, so risk mitigation is more of a concern. Energy prices, for example, can be affected by weather, geopo9litical turmoil, changes in tax and legal systems, OPEC decisions, analysis' reports, transportation issues, and supply and demand - to name just a few factors. Tom James's book is a practical guide to assessing and managing these risks. It is a must-read for senior management as well as risk and financial professionals.- Don Stowers, Editor, Oil & Gas Financial Journal This book is the most comprehensive on price risk management-centric efforts. It provides the reader with a tangible experience of derivatives in today's capital and energy markets. The breadth and scope of the passages are immense, in that both developed and developing countries' energy markets are considered and examples applied. Terrific read! - Rashpal Bhatti, Marketing Manager, Energy Trading Asia, Enron/BHP Billiton Tom James has simplified the intricacies of a very complex market. In this new market of "hot" commodities, he has been able to give a fresh course to those who are new to the energy markets and a solid review for those that are well seasoned. he covers everything within the oil market from A to Z in this book and does it well. Coming from a financial background myself, it's good to finally find a book that can bring a better understanding to the field of energy commodities. - Carl Larry, Vice President Citi Energy Global Commodities

This book focuses primarily on the energy products that are financially traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange: crude oil, natural gas, unleaded gasoline, and heating oil. These commodities are the most common ones used for hedging energy commodity risk. Each of these products has a profound effect on the United States and international economies. It discusses several of the factors that influence energy price direction, the financial instruments used in the market, and how commercial entities utilize these instruments to hedge the risks inherent in energy production and consumption, such as price and physical risk. It also addresses the use of energy financial derivatives strictly for profit (speculative trading) and the exchanges that make efficient and competitive trading possible. The physical cash market is addressed along with the major industry publications that produce market prices, known as postings or indexes. Additionally, the book briefly discusses technical analysis, using charts to identify price trends and predict directional changes. Finally, the book discusses the need for stringent controls on the trading of financial energy derivatives to avoid some of the more notorious pitfalls that have led to the collapse of major global companies and institutions. Features and Benefits Supply / Demand Fundamentals Market overviews (financial and physical) Contracts Derivatives Technical Analysis Risk Controls Audience Field level personnel Management Energy lending and finance professionals Anyone who seeks to understand how, or relies upon, energy markets Students