NATGAS: Some EU Members Below EC Storage Targets for February

Feb-03 11:30

Some European members missed the gas storage targets for February set by the European Commission, as below normal stores and summer refill concerns continue to support TTF prices.

  • France’s gas storage was 35.5% full on Feb. 1, GIE showed, compared with an EC target of 41%.
  • “The security of supply of the country for this winter is in no way jeopardized,” France’s industry and energy ministry said cited by Bloomberg.
  • Some EU members calculate a separate lower target due to exemptions based on domestic gas usage or export volumes.
  • Storage in the Netherlands was 37.09%, GIE shows, compared to the EC target of 47% but revised target of 39%. Austian storage was 62.16% compared to the EC target of 64% but revised target of 24.9%, according to Austrian energy market regulator.
  • If countries fall more than five percentage points below individual member state targets, then governments must act immediately to increase storage levels and inform the EC.
  • European gas storage has fallen to 53.11% full on Feb. 1, according to GIE, compared with the EC target of 50% and compared to the previous five year average of 60.1%.
  • The main target is for EU underground storage to be 90% full by November, with intermediate targets for February, May, July and September.
    • TTF MAR 25 up 2.4% at 54.5€/MWh
    • TTF SUM 25 up 1.7% at 53.87€/MWh
    • TTF WIN 25 up 2% at 47.75€/MWh

 

Screenshot 2025-02-03 112452

 

Source: Bloomberg

Historical bullets

JGB TECHS: (H5) Returns Lower

Jan-03 23:45
  • RES 3: 149.55 - High Mar 22 (cont)
  • RES 2: 147.74 - High Jan 15 and bull trigger (cont)  
  • RES 1: 144.48/146.53 - High Nov 11 / High Aug 6 
  • PRICE: 142.12 @ 15:01 GMT Jan 03
  • SUP 1: 141.65 - Low Dec 30
  • SUP 2: 141.56 - 1.764 proj of the Aug 6 - Sep 3 - 9 price swing
  • SUP 3: 141.05 - 2.000 proj of the Aug 6 - Sep 3 - 9 price swing   

Markets slipped on the hawkish Fed and are yet to fully recover, touching 141.65 on the way lower. Medium-term trend signals on the continuation chart continue to point south. A resumption of the trend would pave the way for a move towards 141.56, a Fibonacci projection point on the continuation chart. A stronger recovery would open 144.48, the Nov 11 high. Further out, key resistance is at 146.53, the Aug 6 high (cont). 

USDCAD TECHS: Bull Flag Highlights A Clear Uptrend

Jan-03 21:00
  • RES 4: 1.4669 2.0% 10-dma envelope
  • RES 3: 1.4539 3.382 proj of the Oct 17 - Nov 1 - 6 price swing
  • RES 2: 1.4508 3.236 proj of the Oct 17 - Nov 1 - 6 price swing
  • RES 1: 1.4467 High Dec 19 
  • PRICE: 1.4392 @ 15:50 GMT Jan 3 
  • SUP 1: 1.4336 Low Dec 20  
  • SUP 2: 1.4307/4232 20-day EMA / Low Dec 17 
  • SUP 3: 1.4136 50-day EMA
  • SUP 4: 1.4011 Low Dec 5

USDCAD is unchanged and bulls remain in the driver’s seat. The latest pause appears to be a flag formation - a bullish continuation signal. Note too that moving average studies are in a bull-mode position, highlighting a dominant uptrend. Sights are on 1.4508 next, a Fibonacci projection level. Initial firm support to watch lies at 1.4307, the 20-day EMA. A pullback would be considered corrective.

AUDUSD TECHS: Southbound

Jan-03 20:30
  • RES 4: 0.6471 High Dec 9
  • RES 3: 0.6408 50-day EMA               
  • RES 2: 0.6341 High Dec 18   
  • RES 1: 0.6247/6282 High Dec 30 / 20-day EMA
  • PRICE: 0.6204 @ 15:21 GMT Jan 3 
  • SUP 1: 0.6179 Low Dec 31 
  • SUP 3: 0.6158 1.236 proj of the Sep 30 - Nov 6 - 7 price swing
  • SUP 3: 0.6100 Round number support 
  • SUP 4: 0.6045 1.500 proj of the Sep 30 - Nov 6 - 7 price swing

A bearish trend condition in AUDUSD remains intact and the pair continues to trade closer to latest lows. Recent weakness maintains the price sequence of lower lows and lower highs. Note that moving average studies are in a bear-mode position too, highlighting a dominant downtrend. Scope is seen for an extension towards 0.6158 next, a Fibonacci projection. Initial firm resistance to monitor is 0.6282, the 20-day EMA.