2nd Quarter Growth at 1.1%; What Role For Energy
 
23 July 2010
Preliminary figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests the UK economy grew by 1.1% in the second quarter, up from the previous quarter's 0.3%. While the figures are preliminary (and based on around 40% of the ultimate data), what they do show is that construction, a relatively small part of the economy, contributed significantly to this growth figure. With 6 out of 10 civil engineering firms looking to the energy and water sectors for their income streams, it seems energy has a role to play in underpinning the recovery.  
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A week of Positives
 
09 July 2010
This was a week for good news in the Financial markets; the IMF upgraded its forecasts for world economic growth and there was increasing confidence that European banks would pass their stress tests. Borrowers were pleased, though not surprised that UK interest rates remained unchanged. Overall world stock markets recorded gains across the week.  
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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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Unemployment Figures Rise
 
16 June 2010
Unemployment rose to 2.47m during the first 3 months of the year and with further public sector cuts widely anticipated, things don't look particularly rosy. A very tricky balancing act lies ahead - sort out the deficit but beware the pull from the black hole called recession.  
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Unseasonal Temperatures help to melt prices
 
16 November 2009
Middle of November but no sign of wintery temperatures. The effect was to soften the prompt power market, which also felt the pressure from weak commodity curves. The downward trend fed through the power curve.  
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What's Happening in the Back-End?
 
19 June 2009
The back end of the curve is extremely difficult to trade. Those dipping their toe in tend to be Producers (with excessive length adjusting their risk positions) and Banks looking for some exposure. At the same time Retailers tend to be short-termist.  
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Natural Gas the one to watch
 
08 March 2010
The power curve ended the week down feeling the pressure from the fuel curves as well as healthy supply situation. Looking forward, the gas market is the one to watch as it continues to dominant the fuel mix accounting for 50% of generating plant.  
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Year to Date (week 7) Lows
 
22 February 2010
With the cold spell already priced into the curve and with bearish fuel prices, the power market hit year lows. At the same time, the season differentials narrowed giving the curve a smoother appearance.  
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Gains Seen Across the Curve
 
21 December 2009
There was no sign of an early Christmas in the power market on Friday with a 'flurry' of trading resulting in gains across the power curve.  
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Green Investment Bank still a Concept
 
16 July 2010
Leading figures from across industry warned that the need for new tools to finance future investment in infrastructure are necessary to secure Britain's growth as a low carbon economy. While the coalitions Green Investment Bank (GIB) is supported, it is important to recognise that it is still at present only a concept.  
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A week of Positives
 
09 July 2010
This was a week for good news in the Financial markets; the IMF upgraded its forecasts for world economic growth and there was increasing confidence that European banks would pass their stress tests. Borrowers were pleased, though not surprised that UK interest rates remained unchanged. Overall world stock markets recorded gains across the week.  
read more...
Unemployment Figures Rise
 
16 June 2010
Unemployment rose to 2.47m during the first 3 months of the year and with further public sector cuts widely anticipated, things don't look particularly rosy. A very tricky balancing act lies ahead - sort out the deficit but beware the pull from the black hole called recession.  
read more...
A Week for Releasing Figures
 
20 April 2010
With the political debate heating up; more 'head to heads' scheduled and with the News Channels pouring over polls, polls of polls and more polls - then the economic figures coming out this week are surely going to add a lot more ingredients to the boiling pot.  
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Confidence Is out there - but are the Foundations Strong?
 
12 April 2010
The signs are positive. Business confidence is high; appetite for financial risk is increasing and stocks are starting to outperform safe assets such as cash and gold. But with political uncertainty still looming and still an amazing lack of clarity with regard plans to 'bail out' UK plc', there is a great risk that this confidence will ebb away.  
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