Hedging Energy Risks with Derivative Instruments in Oil Trading

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2010 in the subject Business economics - Banking, Stock Exchanges, Insurance, Accounting, grade: 2,2, University of Applied Sciences Essen, language: English, abstract: The financial crisis has proven how volatile markets can become within a very shor t period of time. One commodity that went through peaks and troughs is without doubt oil. A wide range of companies with business activities relying on the commodity and stable pricing, also went through highs and lows, whilst some went into liquidation. This circumstance let many companies think carefully about their risk exposure and how they effectively can manage it. This paper shows that: The main exercise to mitigate risk is a well-structured risk management operation which deliver the fundamentals for an effective usage of derivative instruments. Prior to any securing activity with swaps or options, companies must pin-point their current risk position, portfolios and their values. On this, the classical portfolio theory with the various modern extensions and portfolio analysis tools deliver a good concept for this question, however, oil has cer tain characteristics which companies need to take into consideration. Furthermore, the portfolio theory may not helping to mitigate risk that is driven by economic factors, hence, spreading risk in an essential part, but some risks can only be addressed other means. All variables may be used to derive, the hedging strategy, time horizon and trading instrument. Especially for the instruments, the paper shows a wide range of commonly used instruments and how they can be applied for distinct oil risk issues.