NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Platts' physical market price assessments for oil, refined petroleum products, and North American natural gas are the basis for nine new cleared over-the-counter (OTC) energy contracts launched today by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), a U.S.-based operator of regulated exchanges and clearing houses for financial and commodity markets. Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information and a top publisher of global benchmark price references.

"Quality information is the cornerstone to efficient and properly functioning markets and we're pleased that Platts' benchmark data is useful to the marketplace in a variety of ways, from spot market reference to the underpinning of derivatives markets," said Gerald Bueshel, Platts director of global licensing.

With this launch, the total number of ICE energy contracts settled and cleared against physical market price assessments published by Platts is approximately 210.

For more information on ICE's new Platts-based energy contracts visit this link.

The Platts price assessments, licensed by ICE, appear in such Platts publications as Platts Crude Oil Marketwire, Platts U.S. Marketscan, Platts European Marketscan, Platts Inside FERC's Gas Market Report, and Platts Gas Daily. For details of the methodology that underpins Platts' price assessment processes, visit: http://www.platts.com/MethodologyAndReferencesHome.

Platts, founded in 1909, is a division of McGraw Hill Financial (MHFI). In addition to the above mentioned price assessments, Platts provides price and supply/demand market fundamentals and other information for the full spectrum of energy commodities, including non-U.S. natural gas, liquefied natural gas, coal, nuclear power, oil, petrochemicals, electric power, carbon emissions, biofuels, as well as ferrous and non-ferrous metals and agriculture commodities used in the making of biofuels.

For more information on the physical markets for crude oil, refined petroleum products and natural gas, visit the Platts website at www.platts.com.

*Platts does not sponsor, endorse, promote or sell ICE contracts.

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the biofuels, carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, shipping and sugar markets. A division of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), Platts is based in London with more than 1000 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.

About McGraw Hill Financial: McGraw Hill Financial is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company's iconic brands include Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, J.D. Power and McGraw Hill Construction. The Company has approximately 18,000 employees in 30 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.

CONTACT:
Kathleen Tanzy
212-904-2860
Kathleen_tanzy@platts.com

SOURCE Platts

SOURCE: Platts