
13 March 2007
Financial players force volatility into the market, if they didn't then they would be struggling to make returns.
If we assume that markets are ultimately driven by the fundamentals we can assume that there is floor where buyers would come in and ceiling where sellers would be prepared to sell. We can also assume that as data changes these floors and ceilings also change, but there are anomalies, traders start to add their pschological opinion to the market.
One way of assessing where the floor and ceiling is to run a complex fundamental model. The other is to have deep pockets a big apetite for risk and to punt the market aggressively moving one or two products by being a strong buyer and then being a strong seller. This moves the markets to the areas where the sellers start to do something or the buyers start to do something.
At the moment one financial player has moved Winter 07 and 08 to £42 and then sellers came in and it was traded down to £39.60. It is clear that this is a ceiling at the moment.
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Stock and commodities are they connected
 
28 February 2007
The market is definitely in a state of flux with some players suggesting that a bull run is imminent but others hint that this is a flash in the pan. Everyone agrees that it is volatility which is returning.  
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Banks burst
 
06 December 2006
Banks are looking to expand and grow in the commodities markets.  
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Can Winter 07 break £50
 
30 August 2006
Watch the spreads this is where the money is being made and with volatility reducing it is no surprise that players are beginning to look at the margins and pricing these more accurately. Competition is back and beginning to bite.  
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Is volatility a useful measurement?
 
21 March 2006
Volatility is a great measure for risk models, and all traders will be aware of it even though some do not model or trade it. But sometimes even volatility has to be handled carefully.  
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Power and Gas pause for thought
 
25 November 2005
As the markets start to wind down for Christmas the price stays relatively high. Met forecasts of the coldest winter ever do not help the price fall lower.  
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November 2011 Review
 
02 December 2011
While debt repayment concerns combined with woeful economic indicators continued to be a feature throughout November, supply and demand fundamentals were an obvious driver too. Unseasonably warm weather combined with (and causing) plentiful gas storage meant that UK power and gas markets went into a nose dive.  
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Prepare for the clash of OPEC & IEA
 
23 November 2011
With less than a month to go until OPEC meets, the statements are beginning to fly: OPEC believe the oil market looks balanced while the IEA again are saying that high oil prices could harm fragile global economic growth. Let the battle begin!  
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Markets Still Jittery
 
21 November 2011
Most markets reported further losses today on the back of underlying nerves about the ability of both Europe and the US to repay their debts. Oil, commodities and equities all reported losses.  
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Turmoil returns on Greek Announcement
 
01 November 2011
Following last weeks announcement that the eurozone leaders had reached an agreement on a Greek bailout - one that would see banks take a 50% hit on their holdings of Greek debt, the Greek Prime Minister made his own shocking announcement that he plans to hold a referendum on the matter. The Markets tumble in response.  
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Eurozone Debt Deal Announced
 
27 October 2011
After prolonged discussions and late night talks, European leaders have announced a agreement on a a Eurozone debt deal. But will the devil be in the detail?  
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New White Paper highlights need for Energy Risk Management
 
11 November 2010
Yesterday, npower launched its new white paper, commissioned from the London School of Economics on Energy Risk Management for UK business. The paper comes on the back of research that suggests that UK businesses now feel that energy presents a higher level of risk to their business than health and safety and security issues. But what should businesses be doing to manage the risks?  
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An options strategy to suit.
 
31 October 2007
Options are creaping into flexible contracts and this is a good thing as they can provide insurance, but in reality, often they appear to be given away, but look carefully and what you are giving away in return.  
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