The UK power market appears to be following the gas market very closely with the spark spread set between £4.80 and £5.20, for Win 05. As the big price drivers in gas are oil prices, it is fair to say that oil is driving the gas and power market, in the long term. It is more interesting to see that prompt Winter prices (Jan, Feb and Mar) are all trading at below £26/MWh, assuming that most of the power companies bought fuel on a forward basis, and that oil and gas prices have been higher than they are now, it seems that profit margins will be tight for this Winter and very large for Win 05. The £9-£10 differential is hard to justify apart from the knowledge that being hedged in a very volatile market is probably in the long run a smart trading strategy.
29 March 2005
Winter 05 power to remain at current levels with gas to fall. read more...
15 February 2005
Curve bounces towards upper range, with bullish activity in the prompt and the gas market. read more...
02 February 2005
Winter 05 more volatile than the Summer. Now traditionally a good time to pick up Summer. read more...
Shale Gas - Latest UK estimates suggest enough for next 11 years
Cuadrilla Resources, the company at the forefront of Britain's Shale gas exploration released its first estimates of the amount of shale gas contained in the rocks of Lancashire. At 200 trillion cubic feet, the estimates are significant to say the least. read more...
22 September 2011
Cuadrilla Resources, the company at the forefront of Britain's Shale gas exploration released its first estimates of the amount of shale gas contained in the rocks of Lancashire. At 200 trillion cubic feet, the estimates are significant to say the least. read more...
Energy Forward Prices continue to gain ground
Despite market participants describing the market as stagnant and directionless, energy forward prices continue to gain ground. Winter 11 power closed the week up at £59.65/MWh while NBP Winter 11 gas finished at 72.20p/therm. read more...
10 June 2011
Despite market participants describing the market as stagnant and directionless, energy forward prices continue to gain ground. Winter 11 power closed the week up at £59.65/MWh while NBP Winter 11 gas finished at 72.20p/therm. read more...
Downward Trend Still in Play
Most contracts in the UK energy markets continued to lose ground this week enforcing the downward trend that has been in play since the start of the month. The Winter 11 contracts closed the week at £57.60MW/h and 68.85p/therm. read more...
13 May 2011
Most contracts in the UK energy markets continued to lose ground this week enforcing the downward trend that has been in play since the start of the month. The Winter 11 contracts closed the week at £57.60MW/h and 68.85p/therm. read more...
Winter 11 - A Slippery Slope
While March was a month of shocks and gains, April seems to have marked the start of a downward trend in the UK power market. The WInter 11 contract is just one example. read more...
06 May 2011
While March was a month of shocks and gains, April seems to have marked the start of a downward trend in the UK power market. The WInter 11 contract is just one example. read more...
The Market in April 2011
In comparison to the activity seen in March – the energy markets seemed relatively sedate shedding some of the value along the way. read more...
28 April 2011
In comparison to the activity seen in March – the energy markets seemed relatively sedate shedding some of the value along the way. read more...
Weather Forecasts and Iranian Threats
Forecast and outturn cold weather drove gas and coal prices this week which in turn had an impact on the power curve. Iran threatened to cut off crude supplies ahead of the EU's proposed July sanctions; a move that would impact EU nations as they seek to find alternative sources ahead of the import ban. read more...
27 January 2012
Forecast and outturn cold weather drove gas and coal prices this week which in turn had an impact on the power curve. Iran threatened to cut off crude supplies ahead of the EU's proposed July sanctions; a move that would impact EU nations as they seek to find alternative sources ahead of the import ban. read more...
The downward trend comes to an end
The Power market was finally knocked of its downward slide on 19th July with oil and gas prices helping to break the trend. Oil received a boost from lower than expected stock levels (again) and hopes that a US debt deal could be reached. While a Eurozone Emergency Summit was held to rescue the Euro and throw a further lifeline to Greece. read more...
22 July 2011
The Power market was finally knocked of its downward slide on 19th July with oil and gas prices helping to break the trend. Oil received a boost from lower than expected stock levels (again) and hopes that a US debt deal could be reached. While a Eurozone Emergency Summit was held to rescue the Euro and throw a further lifeline to Greece. read more...
Energy Curves regain some of the Losses
The energy markets have recovered from the 'plunging losses' seen earlier in June which dragged down fuel and power prices. Prices across the power curve all report strong week on week gains. read more...
01 July 2011
The energy markets have recovered from the 'plunging losses' seen earlier in June which dragged down fuel and power prices. Prices across the power curve all report strong week on week gains. read more...
OPEC Fail to Reach Agreement
OPEC met on 8 June but failed to reach a consensus for the first time in 20 years -oil production levels remaining unchanged. read more...
08 June 2011
OPEC met on 8 June but failed to reach a consensus for the first time in 20 years -oil production levels remaining unchanged. read more...
High Oil Price Threatens Economic Recovery
The International Energy Agency (IEA) releases statement urging OPEC to increase supply or risk derailing the economic recovery. read more...
20 May 2011
The International Energy Agency (IEA) releases statement urging OPEC to increase supply or risk derailing the economic recovery. read more...
Speculator Irony
With all that has happened in the financial markets this past few days, and with Lehman Brothers collapsing on the 14th September, the one thing that has remained constant is the Speculator Trader rubbished as a cause of volatility and prices rises in one market or another. read more...
19 September 2008
With all that has happened in the financial markets this past few days, and with Lehman Brothers collapsing on the 14th September, the one thing that has remained constant is the Speculator Trader rubbished as a cause of volatility and prices rises in one market or another. read more...
Traders through thin volume start to look at Carbon
Bali conference bound to produce some interesting snippets, but more likely to "guilt" the non-particpants into action. read more...
03 December 2007
Bali conference bound to produce some interesting snippets, but more likely to "guilt" the non-particpants into action. read more...
Oil options day
Oil turns into a bit of a damp squib as players do not exercise their $100 options. read more...
13 November 2007
Oil turns into a bit of a damp squib as players do not exercise their $100 options. read more...
February Monthly Round Up
February was dominated by news of unrest spreading throughout the Middle East and this had a direct impact on all aspects of the UK energy market with gains seen in the UK Power and NBP Gas curves. read more...
25 February 2011
February was dominated by news of unrest spreading throughout the Middle East and this had a direct impact on all aspects of the UK energy market with gains seen in the UK Power and NBP Gas curves. read more...
Where has the market got left to go?
Clean spark spread prices in Winter’s 11 and 12 are trading below £5.00MWh (closing at £4.87 and £4.59 respectively). The equivalent Summer’s are not that much stronger asking some to ask is there anymore downside left at these levels. read more...
03 September 2010
Clean spark spread prices in Winter’s 11 and 12 are trading below £5.00MWh (closing at £4.87 and £4.59 respectively). The equivalent Summer’s are not that much stronger asking some to ask is there anymore downside left at these levels. read more...
Where's the certainty?
There was a time when you could quite comfortably forecast the running order of generation plant in the UK - but 2009 has seen a dramatic turn in the stack! read more...
23 December 2009
There was a time when you could quite comfortably forecast the running order of generation plant in the UK - but 2009 has seen a dramatic turn in the stack! read more...
Drax up against it
Drax profit margins fall as competition will only get harder. read more...
05 March 2008
Drax profit margins fall as competition will only get harder. read more...
Summers Lack Shape
Oil price volatility, credit constraints and the Lehman collapse has all badly affected liquidity further out on the gas curve. read more...
27 October 2008
Oil price volatility, credit constraints and the Lehman collapse has all badly affected liquidity further out on the gas curve. read more...
Energy Intensives Users Group hint that Summer is a concern
The EIUG make some interesting observations but it is clear that the relationship between the spark and dark spread is of growing importance. read more...
30 January 2008
The EIUG make some interesting observations but it is clear that the relationship between the spark and dark spread is of growing importance. read more...
Curve anomalies cause high Summer 08
Sometimes the sum of the parts does not always equal the whole. Players must look at arbitrage between months and seasons. read more...
09 January 2008
Sometimes the sum of the parts does not always equal the whole. Players must look at arbitrage between months and seasons. read more...
Spark spread for 2008
Spark spread play looks to be hotting up but who has it right? read more...
04 January 2008
Spark spread play looks to be hotting up but who has it right? read more...
Prompt prices rise as interest turns to the back of the curve
Prompt still maintains traders affections. read more...
12 December 2007
Prompt still maintains traders affections. read more...
Gas capacity change in 2008
Will NG announce to the market what more capapcity could be availbel at the end of the year? read more...
12 February 2008
Will NG announce to the market what more capapcity could be availbel at the end of the year? read more...
Q4 v Q1 Future (Gas)
Spreads sometimes show how markets can change, and this gas spread is an interesting one to analyse. read more...
04 February 2008
Spreads sometimes show how markets can change, and this gas spread is an interesting one to analyse. read more...
Gas storage being used across Northern Europe
Storage facilities are being used and giving traders and operators more flexibility worldwide. read more...
13 December 2007
Storage facilities are being used and giving traders and operators more flexibility worldwide. read more...
Warm winter predicted
Met office think that it will be warm this winter so go long and wrap up! read more...
23 November 2007
Met office think that it will be warm this winter so go long and wrap up! read more...
Keep up to date on energy trading news.
Click here to subscribe
Click here to subscribe
Powerisk Online tools and services.
Click here to login
Click here to login
Powerisk glossary of power terminology.
Click here for glossary
Click here for glossary
