Commodity News

New research: European Exchange-Traded Commodity Products

London, 12 March 2010

Following the news this week that both UBS and Deutsche Bank (DB) have launched ETC platforms, DB today launches new research on the European Exchange Trade Commodities Market: The Race for Assets in the European Commodity Exchange Traded Products Space.

Read more: New research: European Exchange-Traded Commodity Products

Publicity-shy Trafigura pushes for bond issue

Source: Financial Times, 11th March 2010

Trafigura, one of the world's largest and most profitable commodities traders, plans to approach investors next week over its first bond issue, in a move to diversify its funding.

Read more: Publicity-shy Trafigura pushes for bond issue

Exchanges recover from Volcker rule

London, 11 March 2010

FTSE Mondo Visione Exchanges Index climbs 2.4% in February 2010: Strong performances from US based exchanges, led by NYSE Euronext and Intercontinental Exchange, boosted the overall performance of February’s FTSE Mondo Visione Exchanges Index.

Read more: Exchanges recover from Volcker rule

NYSE Liffe U.S. completes sale of stake to leading market participants

New York, 10 March 2010

NYSE Euronext (NYX) today announced that it sold a significant minority ownership stake in its U.S. futures exchange, NYSE Liffe U.S., to six leading firms and liquidity providers: Citadel Securities, DRW Ventures LLC (an affiliate of DRW Trading Group), GETCO, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and UBS.  NYSE Euronext will continue to be the largest shareholder in NYSE Liffe U.S., managing the exchange’s daily operations.  NYSE Liffe U.S. will continue to operate under the supervision of a separate Board of Directors, chaired by James J. McNulty, former CEO of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Read more: NYSE Liffe U.S. completes sale of stake to leading market participants

NYSE Euronext trading volumes, February 2010

London, 10 March 2010

NYSE Euronext (NYX) today announced trading volumes for its global derivatives and cash equities exchanges for February 2010.  Derivatives trading volumes in February 2010 recorded strong year-over-year growth, with European derivatives volumes increasing 44.2% and U.S. options trading volumes increasing 56.4%.  Cash equities trading volumes were mixed in February 2010, with European cash transactions increasing 9.1% and U.S. cash equities trading volumes declining 35.7% from prior year elevated levels.  Both European and U.S. cash trading volumes, however, remain above fourth quarter 2009 levels.

• European Derivatives Trading Volumes Increase 44% on Stronger Fixed Income Product Activity;

• Largest U.S. Equity Options Exchange Group with Market Share of 27% in February 2010;

• European Cash Trading Volumes Increase 9%

Highlights

- NYSE Euronext European derivatives products average daily volume (“ADV”) in February 2010 of 4.9 million contracts increased 44.2% compared to February 2009, but decreased 3.3% from January 2010 levels.  Total European fixed income products ADV in February 2010 of 2.8 million contracts increased 50.3% compared to February 2009 and increased 1.4% from January 2010.  Fixed income product ADV is at the highest level since January of 2008.  Total equity products ADV of 2.1 million contracts in February 2010 increased 37.8% compared to February 2009, but decreased 9.1% from January 2010.

- NYSE Euronext U.S. equity options (NYSE Arca and NYSE Amex) ADV of 3.4 million contracts in February 2010 increased 56.4% compared to February 2009 levels, but decreased 19.7% from January 2010.  NYSE Euronext’s U.S. options exchanges accounted for 26.9% of the total consolidated equity options trading in February 2010, up from 17.3% in February 2009, but down from 27.8% in January 2010.  NYSE Euronext was the largest U.S. equity options exchange group in the industry in February 2010.

- NYSE Euronext European cash products ADV of 1.4 million transactions in February 2010 increased 9.1% compared to February 2009 and increased 4.1% from January 2010.

- NYSE Euronext (NYSE, NYSE Arca and NYSE Amex) U.S. cash products handled ADV of 2.6 billion shares in February 2010 decreased 35.7% compared to February 2009 and decreased 3.7% compared to January 2010.  NYSE Euronext matched share of all U.S. cash equity trading volume was 27.7% in February 2010, up from 26.5% in January 2010.  NYSE Euronext’s Tape A matched market share in February 2010 was 36.6%, up from 34.3% in January 2010.

There were a total of 20 trading days in Europe and 19 trading days in the U.S. in February 2010 and February 2009.

Ends --

www.nyx.com

Commodity price slump hits Glencore

Source: Financial Times, 10th March 2010

Glencore, the world's largest commodities trader, unveiled on Wednesday a 42 per cent fall in its profits last year due to lower raw materials prices - but it said current trading was "meaningfully ahead" of last year.

Read more: Commodity price slump hits Glencore

Banks battle for record inflows into commodities

Source: Financial Times, 10th March 2010

Commodity related exchange-traded products have emerged as a key battleground for investment banks keen to win a share of the record levels of financial flows that investors are ploughing into commodity markets.

Read more: Banks battle for record inflows into commodities

Energy Business: R.J. O’Brien opens Houston office

Chicago, 9 March 2010

R.J. O’Brien & Associates (RJO), the largest independent futures brokerage firm in the United States, today announced that it has just opened a Houston office to spearhead the firm’s energy brokerage business and hired two experienced brokers to head the team.  Steffen van Keppel and Tod Mitchell have joined RJO, both as Senior Vice President, Energy.

Read more: Energy Business: R.J. O’Brien opens Houston office

New money inflow set to make records

Source: Financial Times, 8th March 2010

Financial inflows into commodity markets in 2010 should match or beat the record $70bn of new money that was invested last year, according to almost two-thirds of the investors attending the sixth annual Barclays Capital commodity investor conference held in Barcelona last weekend.

Read more: New money inflow set to make records

US Jobs data propels crude above $80 bbl

London, 7 March 2010

Jobs data indicating that US economic recovery might be picking up steam finally pushed crude oil futures decisively over the stubborn $80 a barrel threshold. Nymex’s benchmark West Texas Intermediate settled Friday at $81.50 a barrel, a seven-week high, after topping $82 in intraday trading.

Read more: US Jobs data propels crude above $80 bbl