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| Crude FAQ's (last updated: 7/18/03) Technical FAQ's Does HoustonStreet require any special hardware or software? Our system requirements are pretty standard. You simply access the HoustonStreet trading application through your Internet browser. For maximum efficiency, you need the same system requirements dictated by Internet Explorer. Minimum System Requirements
Recommended System Requirements
Is HoustonStreet secure? Absolutely. HoustonStreet incorporates state-of-the-art Internet technology with strictly controlled log in protocols, independent firewalls and multiple system redundancies. Both the HoustonStreet application and infrastructure are designed to deliver 24 x 7 x 365 operating reliability and complete security. Do we have to hire a bunch of IT people? HoustonStreet is designed to be intuitive and easy to use. If you know how to use a mouse, trading on HoustonStreet is as simple as point and click. Everything is clearly labeled and color-coded for easy identification. And in the unlikely event that you do need help, our Help Desk Representatives are on call toll-free at (877) 725-0510 or by email at: info@houstonstreet.com. What happens if my computer crashes? Our system instantly recognizes the problem and immediately reacts, putting all of your positions on hold. Then, simply reboot, log back in to our system, and all of your positions are there, ready to be put back out onto the floor. Also, any deals completed prior to the crash will be saved on our system. What if I forget my password? If you forget your password, simply call (877-725-0510) or email info@houstonstreet.com, and we will help you reestablish your password. Is my log in case sensitive? The first time you log in, your password and user ID are all in lower case letters. The first time you log in, you will be asked to change your password. At that time you can use upper or lower case, as you wish! Fees/Costs What does it cost to trade on HoustonStreet? When Crude Oil is traded on HoustonStreet, you pay a user fee. The specific rate is shown below. HoustonStreet will send a monthly invoice to its member companies, showing a detailed accounting of each trader's transactions and the dates on which the trades were completed. Monthly User Fees for Outright Trades
Monthly User Fees for Buy/Sell Trades
Monthly User Fees for EFP Transactions
Data FAQ's How often is information updated on HoustonStreet? Real-time means just that. New information is inserted into the HoustonStreet database immediately, and HoustonStreet pushes that new information onto your screen immediately. Can anyone see my or my company's trading data? Only authorized personnel in your company can access your company's trading data. Also, only individual traders and people specifically designated by your company are able to view transaction histories. For added security, no one outside of your company will have access to your company's specific information. This information is stored automatically, for your benefit, to help you with planning your trading strategies. Products and Services What products can I trade? The Crude trading platform is designed specifically for trading U.S. domestic and Canadian grades of physical crude oil or their financially- settled derivatives, such as swaps. What locations can I trade? The HoustonStreet Crude Oil Trading Platform supports the Gulf of Mexico trading locations including: St. James, Teppco Cushing, Empire, Houma, Clovelly, Teppco Midland, ExxonMobil Midland, Patoka and Equilon Basin Pipeline. What grades can I trade? You can trade each grade at the various locations, but for your convenience we have created some of the most common grade/location markets (i.e. LLS at St. James). The Crude Oil floor supports grades including: WTI, WTS, HLS, LLS, Bonito Sour, Eugene Island, Poseidon, Mars, Foreign Sweet, Foreign Sour, Domestic Sweet, NYMEX Sweet, Hoover Diana, and Wyoming Sweet. HoustonStreet also supports these Canadian grades: Lloyd Blend, Lloyd Wainwright, Bow River, and Mixed Sweet. Are the deals anonymous until closed? Absolutely. All the information on HoustonStreet is anonymous. There is no way you can find out who the other party is until after the deal is concluded. At that point, you will receive detailed confirmations in your Personal Messaging and Transaction History by both email and fax. Can I create buy/sells? Yes, you can buy from/sell to in the same transaction. How do I know if a bid or offer belongs to me, my company, or another company? Simple. There are specific colored icons displayed for bids and offers made by you or by other traders in your company. Your own bids are marked with a green house, and other bids by traders at your company are indicated with a gray house. If another company makes the bid or offer, then there will be no icon displayed. We've made this easy so you can concentrate on trading. How do I identify companies I cannot trade with due to credit or other reasons? Visually speaking, the bid or offer from such a company will be "grayed-out", indicating that you are not allowed to trade with them. However, even if you didn't notice this color difference, our system will simply not allow you to trade with any counterparty that is not on your company's approved list. Credit Ratings are customized by each individual company. So, while a Market you cannot act upon appears grayed-out, another trader from another company may see the Market as active (in white), indicating that this would be a perfectly acceptable counterparty to trade with. How are deals confirmed? Once a deal is done, both parties receive confirmation messages by fax and by email outlining all the details of the transaction, including contact names, phone numbers, email, fax, quantity, price, basis and any other terms. This information will also be available in the Transaction History screen of each platform. Does HoustonStreet take title to products? Never. HoustonStreet does not take title to product and only enables real time trading between the two parties conducting a transaction.
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