This study report examines the impact of recent changes in commodity markets on traders and TRM software requirements. The report considers the impact of the financial crisis among other factors.

Over the last 2-3 years, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in the natural resources and energy sector have exploded in popularity with investors. ETF’s have actually been available to investors in the US since 1993 and in Europe from 1999. An ETF is simply a pool fund invested with a stated investment objective, for example, a tracker fund for the energy sector or geographical area. Shares owned in this fund by investors are in turn traded on an exchange. ETFs and similar exchange traded instruments allow investors of any type unprecedented access to energy, natural resource and commodity markets.

Against this background, UtiliPoint decided to undertake a snapshot survey to take a pulse check on who utilizes ETFs, why and how in the energy industry. The results of our survey will provide you with an understanding of how ETFs and similar instruments are used and why. The actual polling was performed during late January and early February 2008 and we received a total of 76 responses.