Trading Development Program - IST Global Oil Eastern Hemisphere

Energy trading is a way to make a difference. The energy market doesn't just have an economic impact: it fuels human progress all over the planet. In fact, it's one of the largest trading marketplaces in the world

A Personal Insight from Trading Manager and Graduate Sponsor, Nick Shaw, Trading Manager, IST Global Oil, Eastern Hemisphere

"There are few jobs more interesting that trading oil: that's what I tell everyone who asks me what its like to be a Trader for BP. And its true. Politics, geography, speculation, volatility… oil is one of the most complicated and fascinating commodity classes in the world. Wars over it have drawn the political map. It drives the world's markets and leads social policy and economic policy. It is hugely volatile, reacting to facts, rumours and speculation. There's really nothing else like it.

"When I joined BP, I didn't really understand the difference between trading equities for a Bank and trading oil for a Major. At first glance it doesn't look that different - we both sit on very similar looking trading floors, hooked into instant news services, running analytical models, studying technicals, looking for trends, shouting at Brokers. The difference is actually very simple: in equities, you trade numbers; at BP you trade physical oil."

Introducing BP IST

BP is one of the largest traders of oil and gas in the world. Integrated Supply and Trading (IST) is the market-facing component of our trading activities. It combines all our oil, gas, power and chemical trading activities, and has a dedicated financial markets trading team that manages our daily exposure to global currency and interest rate fluctuations. We work with financial institutions like commodity exchanges, investment banks and hedge funds, as well as companies looking to mitigate risk with regard to their exposure to oil prices.

IST is one of the reasons why BP is a leader in the energy sector. We work in some of the most dynamic market environments, applying trading, supply, risk management and information technology skills to what we do, all supported by a world-class control infrastructure. We work in close partnership with BP’s business segments to generate additional value by managing the flow of commodities from the wellhead to our customers.

IST has four main offices in Singapore, London, Chicago and Houston.

Read our FAQs