Closer

U.S. financial markets “took a step closer…to enhanced transparency,” Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Gary Gensler said Thursday after the Commission voted out final rules covering the vast swap transactions market.

U.S. financial markets “took a step closer today to enhanced transparency,” Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Gary Gensler said Thursday after the Commission voted out final rules covering the vast swap transactions market.

Proposed energy bills in the North Dakota legislature continue to hold the spotlight as state lawmakers move closer to their scheduled May adjournment. At least one proposal that could have had a negative impact on oil/natural gas operators was defeated last Friday.

The federal government wants to keep closer tabs on the “fast-growing” natural gas development in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and Utica Shale in Ohio.

Utah lawmakers are moving closer to passing a law to promote conversions to alternative fueled vehicles, particularly compressed natural gas (CNG), as the state’s leading natural gas company, Questar Corp., expands the development of its CNG fueling business and the rest of the natural gas vehicle (NGV) sector continues to spread its wings.

Baker Hughes Inc.’s North American activity is predicted to be steady this year compared with 2012, but customers still remain cautious about what’s ahead, CEO Martin Craighead said Wednesday. Canadian projects also are posing “near-term risks,” he said.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) ended three days of hearings in Denver Wednesday as it drew closer to finalizing new setback requirements for oil and natural gas wells, but it still fell short of finishing the unpopular and complex task.

A public-sector water conservancy is appealing to the Colorado Supreme Court for the right to divert and store water for prospective clients, including shale oil and gas operators. A state water court earlier denied the proposal by Yellow Jacket Water Conservancy District.

Methanex Corp. is moving closer to inking a long-term supply contract for its previously announced plan to relocate a large production plant to Louisiana, CEO Bruce Aitken told financial analysts recently.