James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 23 April 2026

European gas and UK power extended a third consecutive day of gains as escalation in the Strait of Hormuz and a fragile US-Iran ceasefire kept a firm bid under the wider energy complex.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 22 April 2026

European gas markets rallied through yesterday's session as the US-Iran ceasefire deadline approached without a credible path to a permanent agreement, before steadying overnight when Washington extended the ceasefire indefinitely.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 21 April 2026

European wholesale energy markets reversed part of Monday's sharp gains this morning as traders weighed cautious optimism around US-Iran talks in Pakistan against continued tightness in Norwegian gas supply and a deteriorating UK wind outlook. Oil markets steadied near $95/bbl after surging on the weekend closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with the wider commodity complex remaining sensitive to developments ahead of Wednesday's ceasefire expiry.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 20 April 2026

Wholesale gas and power prices have rebounded this morning, unwinding most of Friday's sharp sell-off after Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend following the US navy's seizure of an Iranian cargo vessel. The wider commodity complex has followed suit, with Brent crude recovering around 6 per cent, UK carbon extending its recent run, and peace talks scheduled for Islamabad today remaining in doubt.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 17 April 2026

Risk premium remained the dominant influence across UK wholesale markets yesterday, with firmer settlements across gas, power, crude and carbon driven by Middle East tensions, Norwegian supply losses and a material UK policy shift on carbon. Friday's session has opened with a softer front end as reports of a 10-day Israel-Lebanon ceasefire filter through, though further-out contracts are holding firm on unresolved supply uncertainty.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 16 April 2026

Gas and power markets fell sharply on Wednesday as the US-Iran ceasefire continued to hold and mild temperatures suppressed demand. A partial recovery emerged on Thursday morning as Norwegian maintenance tightened prompt supply.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 15 April 2026

Energy prices fell sharply as geopolitical risk premia continued to unwind across the complex, with the US-Iran ceasefire holding and fresh diplomatic signals pointing to further de-escalation. Mild weather, rising wind output and healthy Norwegian supply added to the bearish tone.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 14 April 2026

Gas and power prices opened softer on Tuesday morning as geopolitical risk premia eased slightly. Rising European temperatures are trimming heating demand and supporting storage injections, while an improving wind outlook for mid-week is weighing on near-curve contracts.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 13 April 2026

Energy markets opened sharply higher on Monday after US-Iran peace talks collapsed over the weekend and the US announced a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, reversing Friday's risk-premium unwind and reigniting concerns over global crude and LNG supply routes.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 10 April 2026

Markets opened softer this morning after a volatile week dominated by Middle East tensions, though the relief proved tentative as the US-Iran ceasefire showed further signs of fracturing.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 09 April 2026

Ceasefire headlines between the US, Israel and Iran drove a dramatic repricing across energy markets on Wednesday, though early Thursday trade has partially unwound the move as doubts over the agreement's durability resurface.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 08 April 2026

European energy markets sold off sharply following the announcement of a two-week US-Iran ceasefire, unwinding much of the geopolitical risk premium built through late March and Easter. Gas, power and crude all fell heavily, though the brief window of the agreement leaves significant uncertainty over whether lasting terms can be reached.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 07 April 2026

European energy markets opened sharply higher after the Easter break, driven by escalating US-Iran tensions and disruption at the Strait of Hormuz. Gains faded through the morning as mild weather and comfortable system balances tempered buying interest. Carbon moved against the trend, falling on auction pressure and holiday position-squaring.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 02 April 2026

Energy markets whipsawed through mid-week as ceasefire speculation drove heavy selling on Wednesday before a combative overnight address from President Trump reversed sentiment, sending gas and oil sharply higher in early Thursday trade.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 01 April 2026

Wholesale energy markets opened sharply lower on Wednesday morning as diplomatic signals raised cautious optimism that the Iran conflict may be nearing its conclusion. Gas and power prices fell across the curve, with geopolitical risk premia being actively unwound.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 31 March 2026

UK wholesale gas and power markets opened lower on Tuesday as prices corrected across the curve, partially unwinding the sharp gains driven by the Iran conflict through March. Diplomatic signals offered tentative hope of de-escalation, though critically low European storage levels heading into injection season continue to underpin the broader complex.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 30 March 2026

Wholesale energy markets opened the week sharply higher as a significant weekend escalation in the Middle East conflict renewed supply-side risk across oil, gas and power.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 27 March 2026

Wholesale energy markets corrected sharply higher on Thursday, breaking a four-day bearish streak as colder weather, weaker renewables and geopolitical risk across Iran and Ukraine fuelled gains. Overnight developments have since tilted bearish, with Washington extending its Iran deadline and oil prices retreating.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 26 March 2026

Energy markets reversed a four-session losing streak on Thursday morning, opening sharply higher as overnight headlines cast fresh doubt over Middle East peace talks. The geopolitical war premium reasserted itself across gas, power, oil and carbon, overriding what remain broadly bearish underlying fundamentals heading into April.

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James Smith James Smith

Energy Market Report - 25 March 2026

Energy markets sold off sharply yesterday as reports of a US diplomatic initiative towards Iran shifted risk sentiment across gas, power and oil. A surge in GB wind generation compounded the move, crushing day-ahead power prices and reducing gas-for-power demand.

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