
13 June 2006
Whilst the outside temperature confirms it must be summer, inside the traded markets are looking forwards to Winter.
Even in the heat, Winter 06 was the focus on Monday. After 4 months offline, the Rough gas storage facility returned triggering a fall in the Winter 06 contract by just over £1MWh. Whilst the return of the facility had been announced in recent weeks, there has been enough uncertainty to factor in the £1 risk premium.
Further out, Winter 07 itself is trading at a discount to 06 and 08. The discount to 06 is the belief that there will be greater supplies in the UK in 07 particularly gas supplies and so the fundamental fuel price on the marginal plant will have decreased in comparison to 06. In a perfect market players would look to store gas at 07 prices and use this in 08 but storage facilities are limited and so in reality this option is reduced. Winter 08 prices are higher than 07 due to the cost of emissions, which are trading at €5-€6 premium between phases due to more stringent NAP’s (National Allocation Plans) in Phase II.
The smart trade looks to wait for emissions prices in 07 to fall (something which if 05 verification is anything to go by is quite likely). It will drag Phase II prices with it taking the cost of Winter 08 with it. This will be the opportunity to hedge.
CRC- What Price?
 
03 February 2012
In November it was reported that traders in the UK energy markets were beginning to place bets that the Government will not go ahead with its controversial Carbon Floor Price. The Carbon Floor Price has relevance to the CRC, not least because some commentators have suggested that the fixed price levels could track the known Carbon Floor Price. Current EUA prices also seem vastly at odds to the proposed CRC price. British business is lobbying hard for a level and competitive playing field.  
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Carbon Floor Price Announcement: The Market Reacts
 
25 March 2011
The tensions seen in the markets last week, as participants assessed the impact of Japan and nuclear withdrawal in Germany, appeared to have eased when the market started trading on Monday. The Government's mid week budget Carbon Floor Price announcement soon changes that though  
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Japan, Germany & MENA -Global Energy
 
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.  
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Capacity Payments Discussed as a Tool to encourage Investment
 
30 June 2010
In a week when the engineering industry, in its State of the Nation report, said that the Energy Industry gave the most cause for concern in light of security of supply, Energy Minister Charles Hendry spoke of 'Capacity Payments' as a tool to incentivise plant development.  
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Energy Forward Prices continue to gain ground
 
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.  
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Downward Trend Still in Play
 
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.  
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Winter 11 - A Slippery Slope
 
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.  
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The Market in April 2011
 
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.  
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Monthly Review - Jan 2012
 
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.  
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October -What to Expect
 
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.  
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Energy Forward Prices continue to gain ground
 
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.  
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Confidence Returns to Market
 
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.  
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UK Gas price highest in World.
 
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.  
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