Review of European Gas and Power Price Trends for April 2008
Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/65d903/monthly_price_brie) has announced the addition of the “Monthly Price Brief – A Review of European Gas and Power Price Trends: April 2008″ report to their offering.
The growing role of wholesale traded energy markets across Europe creates a greater need for players throughout the value chain to be aware of the latest market movements and developments. From the wellhead or power station gate to the end-user, volatility in the spot and forward price of power and gas is creating an increasingly challenging environment for all market participants.
Scope
– An examination of the wholesale gas price trends in Europe’s three key markets – the UK NBP, the Zeebrugge Hub and the Dutch TTF.
– An assessment of traded power prices in the UK, Belgian, Dutch, German and French wholesale power markets.
– Insight and analysis into the impact of wholesale markets on the wholesale / retail price interface.
Highlights of this title
– UK regulator Ofgem is investigating potential market abuse
– Power prices rebounded in April as tighter supply conditions took effect
– Northwest European gas prices continued to rise amid oil fears
Key reasons to purchase this title
– Establish the current level of wholesale and retail energy prices and the fundamental drivers behind movements in the traded value of gas and power
– Understand how wholesale pricing impacts different facets of the value chain, identifying the potential to limit risk through hedging strategies
– Forecast future developments in the traded price of gas and power in order to successfully take advantage of arbitrage opportunities
Key Topics Covered:
– Ofgem launched a probe into the supply market, as pricing and market power issues are allegedly failing to deliver to customers
– The UK power sectors HHI reflects the high levels of concentration that have evolved over time
– There is a strong correlation between Centricas loss of market share and a falling HHI
– Forward pricing is inherently complex and often too opaque for regulators to disseminate company portfolios
– The price spread between long and short portfolios can change in a matter of months
– The weighted average cost of gas flips from a short to long-term strategy
– SSEs hedging strategy has paid off, despite its structural disadvantage in gas, and rising wholesale costs
– Energy tops the UKs political agenda, with increased regulatory and policy action planned during 2008
– Challenges lie ahead for UK competition authorities and suppliers
– Power prices rebounded in April as tighter supply conditions took effect
– Belgian power contracts all rose, as price expectations were decidedly bullish over the previous months trading
– French power prices reacted sharply to power auctions and continued to firm
– German power contracts firmed during Q1, going out and the near-end of the curve
– Dutch wholesale power prices, which typically follow German sentiment, continued to rise
– In tandem with the rest of Europe, baseload prices firmed in the UK
– Northwest European gas prices continued to rise amid oil fears
– Contracts at the NBP were bullish, in stark contrast to mid-Q1 data, which showed signs of softening
– Aggressive Dutch and oil-indexed gas prices pushed up contracts across the board
– Zeebrugge matched the NBP and firmed compared to Q1 2008
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/65d903/monthly_price_brie
Source: Datamonitor