As Wall Street retreats from the energy trading business new players like major oil companies, utilities and other corporate enterprises are taking large chunks of the energy derivative and price hedging market. “With Wall Street hamstrung by growing regulatory restrictions, a recently finalized ban on proprietary trading and increased capital requirements, these corporate behemoths are leveraging their robust balance sheets and savvy global trading desks to capture as much as a quarter of the global multibillion-dollar market for hedging commodity prices.” [Reuters]

Protesters are blocking roads and chaining themselves to cars in an effort to prevent Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek project in New South Wales. “They argue the Maules Creek mine will destroy irreplaceable critically endangered woodland in the Leard state forest, draw down the aquifer used by local farmers and release thousands of tonnes of coal dust onto surrounding farms.” [The Guardian]

Japan and Myanmar signed an investment treaty to facilitate trade and business ventures in the two nations. Myanmar is rich in natural gas and Japan is one of the world’s largest importers of the fuel. “The Japanese government hopes to promote the business expansion of Japanese companies in Myanmar, a market closely watched for strong growth prospects thanks to progress in economic reform.” [The Japan News]