Monday, December 17, 2007

Largest carbon exchange caught in crossfire

(Refiles Dec. 14 story to clarify paragraph 8 by adding comment from LCH.Clearnet's spokesman)

From Reuters:

The world's largest exchange for carbon emissions trading is caught in the crossfire of a battle between two of its business partners that could result in it losing a substantial portion of its trade to rivals.

In recent days some of the largest carbon credit brokers have come out in favour of two new challengers to the European Climate Exchange (ECX), which does around 80 percent of the exchange-based trade in carbon credits.

One of ECX's partners, its clearinghouse provider LCH.Clearnet, intends to become its rival in early 2008.

"It's like an axe hanging over our head," said a source at the ECX, which is owned by AIM-listed Climate Exchange (CLIE.L).

ECX has been caught in the battle between its two exchange partners, trading platform provider IntercontinentalExchange (ICE.N) and clearinghouse LCH.Clearnet....MUCH MORE