Energy Trading and Risk Management: A Practical Approach to Hedging, Trading and Portfolio Diversification (Wiley Finance)

Usefully content for bigginners to advance level

In the challenging world of energy trading, fortune favours the prepared. Whether one is brave enough (or not) comes second and not having a clear strategy would be borderline foolishness. Given such a backdrop, almost inevitably, there are resources aplenty targeting those who feel the need to be better informed and equipped. Among the latest reference sources, industry veteran and academic Dr Iris Marie Mack’s book Energy Trading and Risk Management published by Wiley is a pretty compelling one. I instantly warmed up to the book barely a chapter in, struck by its practical approach, balanced tone, contextualised narrative and a genuine desire on the author’s part to define terms and methodologies for the benefit of those with a mid-tier investment knowledge base. Furthermore, the instructive narrative seeks to bring about a holistic understanding of how energy markets work to begin with, leading on to an adequate treatment of risk, speculation and portfolio diversity tenets. The format in which 'Energy Trading and Risk Management' is minutely sub-sectioned point to point is simply splendid. So should you wish to salami slice and pick up bits of the subject, it would serve you just as well as a cover to cover read through. Conversely, if you are confident enough to skip the basics and go straight through to concepts and formulas, the sequential flow of text in each chapter helps you breeze through basic definitions usually quoted in boxed text on to what you are after. Accompanying the text are charts, case studies, background briefs, notes on macro drivers and definitions at various points split into ten weighty sub-sectioned chapters in a book of around 270 pages. From contango to the modern portfolio theory, from risk management in the renewables business to mitigation in an ever changing market climate – it’s all there and duly referenced. While I appreciated Dr Mack's work in its entirety, a chapter on exotic energy derivatives (which follows a passage on the plain vanilla variety) stood out for me. One would be happy to recommend this title to energy professionals, fellow energy analysts and those with a desire to pursue energy trading as a career pathway. It would most definitely appeal to entrants finding their feet in the market as well as established participants wanting to refresh their thinking and methodologies. Ultimately, for every reader this title is bound to morph from being an informative and educational book at the point of first reading, to an invaluable reference source as and when subsequently needed. That makes it worthy of any energy sector professional’s bookshelf.

Expensive book but very little substance. Concepts introduced at a high level - maybe good for a beginner overview. Chapters and paragraphs lack any serious substance. Every second sentence is referenced like an academic paper, making the book feel more like it’s a collection of quotes and references, rather than a detailed and comprehensive overview of energy markets. I am seriously disappointed with this book, especially given the high price tag.

目次からも分かるように、記述対象が広範囲なのは良い点ですが、深さが足りない印象です。知識を実務で役立てるためには、本書以外にも情報源が必要ですね。

Deve essere una riedizione per cui i grafici originali a colori sono stampati i bianco e nero limitandone fortemente la leggibilità

Dr. Iris Mack leverages her extensive experience as a trader and banker to write an informative and highly useful book on trading in energy commodities, derivates, options, et cetera. This book can be especially useful to people who are already traders but are unfamiliar with energy markets, as Mack gives a thorough, accessible introduction to the fundamentals of those markets. Even better for those of us who think Bollinger bands and other technical analysis is silly and prefer quant trading, Mack takes a look at many different quantitative models for trading. Mack's background in mathematics and physics, let alone her experience trading at major firms worldwide, makes her approach very insightful. Not only covering trading, the book also covers risk management, an aspect of trading in which many more should be educated and should apply regularly. I would highly recommend this book for both beginner and experienced traders alike.

Energy Trading and Risk Management is a comprehensive guide to the energy sector of the global financial markets. Dr. Mack covered every aspect of energy trading and what it is involved in risk management. Quant models and qualitative factors that should be accounted for when considering energy investments are explained thoroughly enough to gain needed insight, but described simply enough to be easily understood. There also many case studies included in the book to bring clarity to some of the concepts. I would recommend this book for anybody looking to get into energy trading or those looking for a reference for the energy market in general.

Energy Trading and Risk Management is an essential text that provides a thorough yet straightforward overview of the energy finance marketplace. Dr. Mack's book works as both a stepping stone and introductory piece to options, futures, and various other trading and risk management techniques, or as a supplement to experienced professionals. With both analysis of the underlying theory of energy derivative tools, as well as thorough walk-throughs of real world examples, I highly recommend Energy Trading and Risk Management to both prospective and current energy professionals.