Source: www.cmegroup.com In fast-moving energy markets, some of the most consequential trades never hit the screen in real time. Natural Gas block trades are one such mechanism—quiet, efficient, and critical for managing scale. A block trade is a privately negotiated futures or options transaction executed away from the public order book, then submitted to an exchange like CME Group for clearing. For Henry Hub Natural Gas futures (NG), the minimum threshold is typically 50 co

Source: Elk Trading Company LLC Natural gas producers operate in a landscape shaped by weather volatility, LNG-driven baseload demand, and shifting production growth. In this environment, hedging isn’t a luxury—it’s fundamental risk management. While structures evolve with market conditions, three tools dominate E&P portfolios: swaps, costless collars, and three-way collars. Each carries a different balance of protection, opportunity, and complexity. Swaps The most widely use

Source: Pivotal Weather (December 1, 2025) As we turn toward the tail end of the year, the energy derivatives market is flashing clear signals of concern—and opportunity. Both December and January call-option activity on the CME Group’s energy complex show elevated volume in deep out-of-the-money (OTM) strikes, pointing to traders hedging for upside exposure amid a potential cold snap. Here’s what’s driving the shift: Recent weather-model runs from both the GFS (Global Foreca