Deutsche Builds Energy Trading

Deutsche Bank has hired Christopher Plante, former trader with energy company Constellation Energy. He's the second power and natural gas trader brought on by the bank in as many months as banks hire to take advantage of strong commodities markets.

Plante joined Deutsche's global currencies and commodities group, within its global markets division based in New York, as a director and head of North America power trading, focusing on Northeast power. He will report to Foster Smith, managing director and head of U.S. power and natural gas trading.

Last month, the company hired Steve Wang as a director for U.S. power trading in the commodities group of its global markets division, also reporting to Smith.

Cantor Fitzgerald, Merrill Lynch, HSBC, UBS, and Barclays Capital have all made new hires in recent months to build up their energy trading desks.

Plante was most recently vice president responsible for power trading at Constellation Energy and was previously an electricity trader at New Energy Ventures.