POWER: Nordic Forward Curve May Trade in Green on TTF, German Power
Mar-03 07:41
The Nordic forward curve could be supported today amid price increases in TTF, supporting neighbouring EU markets. However, stronger hydro balances in Norway and Sweden as well as upward revisions of temperatures in the region could cap gains.
- Nordic Base Power APR 25 closed up 1.6% at 30.33 EUR/MWh on 28 Feb
- Germany Base Power APR 25 up 6% at 82.18 EUR/MWh
- EUA DEC 25 up 2.1% at 72.48 EUR/MT
- TTF Gas APR 25 up 6% at 46.995 EUR/MWh
- The 1.6GW OL3 reactor started its planned maintenance on 1 March, with the unit offline until early May.
- Norway’s hydrological balance has been revised up by around 250-600 GWh/d over 5-17 March and is now expected to end at +9.19TWh on 17 March compared to +8.60TWh in the previous forecasts.
- Sweden’s balance is also expected to be higher, with the balance at +5.24TWh on 17 March from +5.20TWh in the previous forecasts.
- Average temperatures in the Nordics have mostly revised up over 3-8 March but as much as 0.4C and are seen reaching as high as 5C on 6 March compared to the seasonal norm of -0.7C.
- However, temps will be on a general downward trend over 7-17 March and are seen flipping below the 30-year norm on 12 March.
- Rainfall in the region has been revised down over 3-5 March and is seen mostly below the seasonal norm until at least 17 March – which could limit flows into reservoirs.
- Closer in, Norwegian wind is forecasted at around 3.36GW, or 64% on 4 March – down from forecasts for today of around 4.04GW – which could support delivery.
- Nordic nuclear availability was at 78% capacity on Monday morning, down from 100% on Friday, according to Bloomberg. 10 of 11 units are still online.
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FED: Powell To Deliver Semi-Annual Testimony In Mid-Feb
Jan-31 21:48
The House Financial Services Committee's website confirms that Fed Chair Powell will deliver his semi-annual Monetary Policy Report on Wednesday Feb 12 at 1000ET.
- The Semi-annual testimony will be closely eyed as Powell's first scheduled appearance since the January FOMC - and the House testimony on the 12th is the same day as the release of January CPI (and the week after nonfarm payrolls and benchmark revisions) so will be of particular interest.
US OUTLOOK/OPINION: Nonfarm Payrolls, Revisions Highlight Next Week In US Macro
Jan-31 21:39
Friday’s nonfarm payrolls for January highlights the US macro week. It's a highly anticipated report that could alter recent trends considering it will include annual benchmark revisions along with seasonal factors and an updated birth-death model.
- The preliminary estimate for the benchmark revision pointed to the level of payrolls being some 818k lower than currently reported for back in March 2024. There’s a broad expectation from what we can gather that the hit seen next week won’t be as large but it could still be significant. We also watch the seasonal revisions closely, as whilst they should have a zero-sum impact over the calendar year, we’ve noted some particularly favorable seasonal factors in recent months that have biased seasonally adjusted jobs growth higher.
- With these considerations in mind, the early days of the Bloomberg consensus points to nonfarm payrolls growth of 150k after a solid three-month average of 170k. Note that the unemployment rate from the separate household survey won’t be affected by these revisions, having already seen its own seasonal factor revisions last month. A population control will complicate month-on-month changes in the levels of employment and unemployment but shouldn’t be significant for the rate, which is seen unchanged at 4.1% having surprised lower with 4.09% in December. The recent high is technically 4.23% in November having first popped to 4.22% back in July.
- Two other special mentions for the week are: 1) rare remarks from FOMC Vice Chair Jefferson speaking on the economic outlook and monetary policy late on Tuesday with both text and Q&A, having last spoke on Oct 9. 2) ISM services on Wednesday after its priced paid series jumped 5.9pts to 64.4 in December for the highest since Feb 2023.
- Away from macro but still material, the coming week brings the US Treasury's quarterly refunding process - our preview is here.
MACRO ANALYSIS: MNI US Macro Weekly: Uncertainty Vindicates Fed’s Patience
Jan-31 21:37
In a largely positive week for economic activity data, including in core durable goods and MNI Chicago PMI, the Q4 GDP accounts stood out by showing a very strong end to 2024 for the consumer.
- As we go to press, though, President Trump has confirmed that tariffs would be imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China beginning this weekend – while also threatening further action against the likes of the European Union and across various import categories.
- The combination of solid growth and policy uncertainty, along with stubborn “supercore” PCE inflation for December, seemingly vindicated the Federal Reserve’s “hawkish hold” at its January meeting.
- A March rate cut is still a possibility but the bar for such an outcome has been set high.
- That gets us to the first key release between now and then: Friday’s nonfarm payrolls for January is the highlight of the US macro week, and could alter recent trends considering it will include annual benchmark revisions along with seasonal factors and an updated birth-death model.
- Other highlights in the upcoming week include ISM Services and the Treasury’s quarterly Refunding announcement (Wednesday), while FOMC Vice Chair Jefferson delivers commentary on the economic outlook and monetary policy Tuesday.
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