Crude Oil Broking Team Opens Location in Houston
HOUSTON – (November 13, 2014) – Leading independent interdealer broker in over-the-counter commodities OTC Global Holdings (OTCGH) today announced the expansion of Aalpha Energy into North America. The newly formed desk, Aalpha Energy U.S., will work in conjunction with its European counterparts to provide customers a holistic look at global crude oil prices.
“There is a huge potential for growth in the U.S. with swaps in domestic grades nearly tripling in the last two years because market participants are seeking a better hedge against shale production,” said Jamie Spicer, manager of Aalpha Energy U.S. “The growing liquidity in the market is attracting players from all over the world, and we feel that having a base in Houston with a hand in the physical space will not only open doors to new companies, such as smaller refineries, but enable us to give more color to our existing customers.”
Unlike traditional crude brokers who focus on individual derivatives, Aalpha Energy’s business model leverages a hybrid team with a deep knowledge of every aspect of crude futures and the crude over-the-counter market. This unique perspective enables the desk to provide an unmatched look at the market, as well as unparalleled service to customers. Aalpha Energy U.S. currently provides coverage on Physical LLS, Mars, WTS, WTI Midland, SGC, Thunderhorse, HLS, EIC, Bonito and Canadian heavy grades at Cushing and Nederland.
Joining Spicer on the desk are Duncan Balcom and Alex Denny. Balcom began his career with ICAP then helped start Atlas’ physical crude desk, which quickly became one of the top performing desks in the market. Denny began his career as a runner on the floor of New York Mercantile Exchange before brokering heating oil at PVM Oil Associates He has also brokered unleaded gasoline, crude, gold and silver, RBOB gasoline and natural gas futures and swaps and focuses on executing ICE and NYMEX transactions.
“The crude trading market’s continued evolution is creating opportunities for innovative thinkers like Jamie and his team,” said Joe Kelly, president and chief operating officer of OTC Global Holdings. “The group is not only making good progress in the physical domestic markets, but they’re able to stream data from European markets with the flows from U.S. operations because of their nontraditional structure to provide more a more complete look a the market to our customers.”
For more information about Aalpha Energy US, email spicer.j@aalpha-eox.com or call (713) 335-0480.
About OTC Global Holdings LP
Formed in 2007, OTC Global Holdings is headquartered in Houston and New York, with additional offices in Chicago, Jersey City, London and Louisville. It is a leading independent interdealer broker in over-the-counter commodities and the largest liquidity provider to CME ClearPort and ICE Clear U.S. Through its subsidiaries the company holds a dominant market share in the U.S. and Canadian natural gas markets, the U.S. power markets, crude oil and crude oil options, crude oil products and crude oil product options, agricultural and soft commodities, as well as structured weather and emission derivatives. The company serves more than 250 institutional clients, including 45 members of the Fortune 500, and transacts at over 150 different commodity delivery points. To learn more about the company, please visit www.otcgh.com or go to http://bit.ly/OTCYouTube.
Contact: Brittney Garneau
Pierpont Communications
+1 713 627-2223
bgarneau@piercom.com
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