POWER: Italy August Power Edges Higher

Jul-17 07:34

Italy August power is edging higher with gains in EU gas prices weighed against forecasts for colder weather. 

  • Italy Base Power AUG 25 up 0.1% at 115 EUR/MWh
  • TTF Gas AUG 25 up 1.2% at 35.235 EUR/MWh
  • EUA DEC 25 down 0.3% at 71.07 EUR/MT
  • TTF front month is slightly higher today, with support from lower Norwegian flows after unplanned outages.
  • The latest two-week ECMWF weather forecast for Rome suggested mean temperatures will remain above normal until late next week, when temperatures will briefly drop to be in line with the average.
  • Mean temperatures in Rome are forecast at 26.1C on Friday, from 25.6C on Thursday and above the seasonal average of 25.2C.
  • The PUN index declined to €115.92/MWh for Thursday’s delivery, from €117.16/MWh a day earlier.
  • Wind output in Italy is forecast at 1.49GW during base load on Friday, from 1.89GW on Thursday. Solar PV output is forecast at 12.2GW during peak load on Friday, from 12.01GW on Thursday according to SpotRenewables.
  • Power demand in Italy is forecast at 37.79GWh/h on Friday, from 37.67GWh/h on Thursday, Reuters data showed.
  • Residual load in Italy is forecast at 29.08GWh/h on Friday, compared with 28.99GWh/h on Thursday, Reuters data showed.
  • Italy’s hydro balance forecast has been revised up to -276GWh as of 31 July, compared with -433GWh a day earlier, Bloomberg data showed. 

Historical bullets

POLITICAL RISK: Trump Wants 'Real End' To Iran's Nuclear Programme

Jun-17 07:33

Jennifer Jacobs at CBS puts two lengthy posts on X after US President Donald Trump left the G7 early. Some of the main points noted below:

  • Trump says he needs to be in the White House Situation Room where he can be "well versed" on the state of play in the Middle East. Calls for a "real end" to Iran's nuclear programme with Iran "giving up entirely" on nuclear weapons.
  • Says Israel is not slowing its barrage on Iran. Says he may end VP JD Vance or Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to talk to Iran.
  • Says US would "come down so hard if they do anything to our people," re: threats to US bases in Middle East.
  • Says he hope Iran's nuclear programme "is wiped out long before [US involvement]."
  • Confirms that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent 'and a couple of others' have stayed behind to meet with G7 leaders.
  • Says he has not seen the G7 statement, but has "authoized them go say certain things." Earlier, Trump reversed course and signed a G7 resolution calling for “a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza", after initially refusing to back the wording. 

At present, neither Israel nor Iran have actively shown any sign of ramping down their missile attacks on one another. A flurry of whipsawing headlines on 16 June, at one moment suggesting de-escalation and then minutes later further escalation, has not changed the calculus at present. Attacks continue apace and Israel maintains its need to eliminate Iran's nuclear programme. 

GILTS: Bear Steepening, Supply Eyed This Morning

Jun-17 07:28

Gilts follow Bunds lower, with a lack of significant escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict and a late NY dip in Tsys factoring into the move early today.

  • Futures stick within yesterday’s range, trading as low as 92.37.
  • Bullish technical conditions remain intact in the contract, initial support and resistance located at yesterday’s low (92.23) & the 50.0% retracement of the Jun 13-16 down leg (92.95), respectively.
  • Yields 2-4bp higher, curve steeper.
  • 10s last 4.57%, with last week’s move below 4.50% and break of long-term uptrend support lacking traction and quickly fading.
  • 2s10s and 5s30s remain in multi-week ranges, last trading 63.6bp and 122.7bp, respectively.
  • SONIA futures now -1.0 to -3.0 after printing flat to -2.0 into the gilt open.
  • BoE-dated OIS still showing ~48bp of cuts through year-end.
  • Our full preview of tomorrow’s inflation data is available here.
  • On the supply front, the DMO will come to market with GBP4.5bln of the 4.375% Mar-30 gilt this morning.

BOJ: Ueda: Won't Rule Out Any Future MonPol Tools

Jun-17 07:23

Ueda's press conference continues to have a limited impact on markets, with USDJPY still little changed on the session. Latest headline flow has seen the Governor say that there is no definitive answer on whether long-term rates can be controlled.

In response to a question on whether a return to YCC was possible, he said that he did not want to rule out any future monetary policy tools.