Review of European Gas and Power Price Trends for April 2008

Monday, August 4th 2008

Research and Markets 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