In the financial markets, last week ended in an almost surreal atmosphere with very strong rises in the equity markets, so much so that the flagship index of the US stock market (the S&P 500) recorded a weekly gain. This optimism was based on the idea that the sanctions imposed on Russia would not affect…
The European power spot prices rose yesterday amid forecasts of fading wind output, weakening French and Belgian nuclear production and increasing power demand. The day-ahead contracts averaged 156.09€/MWh in Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, +24.28€/MWh day-on-day with the German prices presenting again a significant discount to the other NWE countries prices due to the…
European gas prices continued to weaken yesterday, pressured by forecasts of milder weather amid ongoing strong LNG supply. The announcement of a possible Putin-Biden summit pushed prices down early in the morning. But the downtrend slightly reversed later in the day after the Kremlin spokesperson said a call or meeting between the two presidents could…
Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognise the pro-Russian separatist provinces in eastern Ukraine and to send troops there has added a new dimension to the crisis that has been shaking the region for several weeks. Western economic sanctions will fall against Russia and the price of hydrocarbons exported by Russia continues to rise. The price of Brent…
Tensions with Russia have risen after Vladimir Putin officially recognised the two breakaway provinces around the Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk and ordered Russian forces to be sent in to “keep the peace”. Obviously, this decision will be followed by economic sanctions against Russia and there is a high degree of uncertainty about the course…
