The market has repsonded to a lack of supply and a cold snap driven demand increase with a significant price rise across the curve. It is hoped that when the snow melts so will the price but it traditionally takes longer for the back end to fall.
The market on Friday and on Monday morning opened up on Thursday's close. This is mainly driven from the cold snap seen across the UK with snow falling in much of the North and demands rising to unseasonable highs. The demand on gas has seen gas prices rise dramatically and this has been further enhanced by problems at Rough storage, where players do not have access to their storage. Some nuclears have also been slow to come back from unscheduled outages, and suddenly the outlook for the market is significantly more bullish than bearish.
April 06 the most volatile month because it is the liquid prompt month, has risen £7 in three days and has traded as high as £52. It is reasonable to assume that when it gets milder that this will have an effect on prompt prices and start to bring down the curve, but the fear factor has been placed in traders minds, and there is no doubt that the curve market is beginning to price in this fear factor. Sadly, this should be priced through options but the options market is thin and unpredictable and so we are seeing some of that volatility reflected in long dated products.
02 May 2007
Q3 continues to rise on some gas concerns and arbitrage opportunities with Europe. It is likely that there will be a bit of a squeeze on prices in Q3 and hence the premia but the market looks a little over hyped. read more...
14 November 2005
The market is becoming more volatile less liquid and players are spooked, it is not broken, it is just more scary to operate it. read more...
25 January 2005
Winter 05 continues its bull run, hitting a two month high of £37.10. 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...
Monthly Review - Jan 2012
Weather, oil sanctions and European debt concerns were the pushers and pullers this month as energy markets responded to competing indicators. Volatility was the only constant. read more...
01 February 2012
Weather, oil sanctions and European debt concerns were the pushers and pullers this month as energy markets responded to competing indicators. Volatility was the only constant. read more...
Japan, Germany & MENA -Global Energy
Bullish gains were seen across the fuels complex as traders and analysts rushed to assess the impact of the devastating earthquake and subsequent Tsunami in Japan as well as Germany's announcement that it was to take 7 nuclear generators offline immediately. read more...
18 March 2011
Bullish gains were seen across the fuels complex as traders and analysts rushed to assess the impact of the devastating earthquake and subsequent Tsunami in Japan as well as Germany's announcement that it was to take 7 nuclear generators offline immediately. read more...
Power Prices Ride the Crest of the Fuel Wave
A bullish fuel market fed through into the UK Power Market today with gains of over £2/MWh seen on most of the seasonal curve contracts. read more...
26 April 2010
A bullish fuel market fed through into the UK Power Market today with gains of over £2/MWh seen on most of the seasonal curve contracts. read more...
What type of recession will it be.
Economists are trying hard to work out if this recession will be a V, W or square root type of recession. read more...
13 May 2009
Economists are trying hard to work out if this recession will be a V, W or square root type of recession. read more...
Oil eases off
Oil bulls retreated as the markets digested the US oil stock levels. read more...
15 April 2009
Oil bulls retreated as the markets digested the US oil stock levels. read more...
Monthly Review - Jan 2012
Weather, oil sanctions and European debt concerns were the pushers and pullers this month as energy markets responded to competing indicators. Volatility was the only constant. read more...
01 February 2012
Weather, oil sanctions and European debt concerns were the pushers and pullers this month as energy markets responded to competing indicators. Volatility was the only constant. 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...
Warm weather weighs heavy on prices
Unseasonably warm weather and European debt crisis fears continued to influence the markets at the start of 2012. While oil did open the year up on the back of strong economic data from both the US and China, it retraced its steps on surprise US stockpile data combined with the Euro debt fears. read more...
06 January 2012
Unseasonably warm weather and European debt crisis fears continued to influence the markets at the start of 2012. While oil did open the year up on the back of strong economic data from both the US and China, it retraced its steps on surprise US stockpile data combined with the Euro debt fears. 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...
Confidence Returns to Market
Despite a continuation of cold conditions, confidence was seen returning to the market with a stabilisation of spot prices and comfortable system margins. There was some focus on the curve with seasonal contracts all reporting some gain on the previous weeks levels apart form Summer 13. read more...
20 December 2010
Despite a continuation of cold conditions, confidence was seen returning to the market with a stabilisation of spot prices and comfortable system margins. There was some focus on the curve with seasonal contracts all reporting some gain on the previous weeks levels apart form Summer 13. read more...
Monthly Review - Jan 2012
Weather, oil sanctions and European debt concerns were the pushers and pullers this month as energy markets responded to competing indicators. Volatility was the only constant. read more...
01 February 2012
Weather, oil sanctions and European debt concerns were the pushers and pullers this month as energy markets responded to competing indicators. Volatility was the only constant. read more...
October -What to Expect
October is a month to identify some good value purchasing opportunities. History suggests we will see prices slip through the month before the real winter drivers kick in. read more...
03 October 2011
October is a month to identify some good value purchasing opportunities. History suggests we will see prices slip through the month before the real winter drivers kick in. 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...
Confidence Returns to Market
Despite a continuation of cold conditions, confidence was seen returning to the market with a stabilisation of spot prices and comfortable system margins. There was some focus on the curve with seasonal contracts all reporting some gain on the previous weeks levels apart form Summer 13. read more...
20 December 2010
Despite a continuation of cold conditions, confidence was seen returning to the market with a stabilisation of spot prices and comfortable system margins. There was some focus on the curve with seasonal contracts all reporting some gain on the previous weeks levels apart form Summer 13. read more...
UK Gas price highest in World.
The UK gas price in Q409 is attracting significant volumes of LNG gas to the UK but there is real doubt as to whether these prices levels will be maintained. read more...
11 September 2009
The UK gas price in Q409 is attracting significant volumes of LNG gas to the UK but there is real doubt as to whether these prices levels will be maintained. read more...
New White Paper highlights need for Energy Risk Management
Yesterday, npower launched its new white paper, commissioned from the London School of Economics on Energy Risk Management for UK business. The paper comes on the back of research that suggests that UK businesses now feel that energy presents a higher level of risk to their business than health and safety and security issues. But what should businesses be doing to manage the risks? read more...
11 November 2010
Yesterday, npower launched its new white paper, commissioned from the London School of Economics on Energy Risk Management for UK business. The paper comes on the back of research that suggests that UK businesses now feel that energy presents a higher level of risk to their business than health and safety and security issues. But what should businesses be doing to manage the risks? read more...
Night Night Power Market!
The market seems warm and cosy (aka stable with low volatility) - but wait until the players return in September! read more...
07 August 2009
The market seems warm and cosy (aka stable with low volatility) - but wait until the players return in September! read more...
An options strategy to suit.
Options are creaping into flexible contracts and this is a good thing as they can provide insurance, but in reality, often they appear to be given away, but look carefully and what you are giving away in return. read more...
31 October 2007
Options are creaping into flexible contracts and this is a good thing as they can provide insurance, but in reality, often they appear to be given away, but look carefully and what you are giving away in return. read more...
Summary of the week.
The market continues to baffle as players gear up for the winter read more...
28 September 2007
The market continues to baffle as players gear up for the winter read more...
What a volatile week!
Market moves for next week could be very interesting. read more...
21 September 2007
Market moves for next week could be very interesting. read more...
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