POWER: Italy November Power to Fall

Oct-13 07:43

Italy November power is expected to trade down, once liquid, with losses in EU gas prices. 

  • Italy Base Power NOV 25 closed up 0.5% at 111.25 EUR/MWh on 10 Oct
  • Italy Power Cal 26 down 0.7% at 104.4 EUR/MWh
  • TTF Gas NOV 25 down 1.1% at 31.82 EUR/MWh
  • EUA DEC 25 down 0.1% at 79.62 EUR/MT
  • TTF front month extends losses from late last week down to the lowest since Oct. 3 amid downside pressure from lower geopolitical risk from the Middle East and the Trump threat of more extensive tariffs against China.
  • The latest two-week ECMWF weather forecast for Rome suggests mean temperatures will remain below normal until 21 October, before rising above normal.
  • Mean temperatures in Rome are forecast to be broadly stable on the day at 17.4C on Tuesday, below the seasonal average of 18.2C.
  • The PUN index rose to €123.68/MWh for Monday’s delivery, from €105.76/MWh the previous session.
  • Wind output in Italy is forecast at 498MW during base load on Tuesday, from 433MW on Monday. Solar PV output is forecast to be broadly stable on the day at 7.58GW during peak load on Tuesday according to SpotRenewables.
  • Italian wind output is forecast to remain relatively low this week, before rising next week at 498MW to 3.2GW during base load over 14-22 October.
  • Residual load in Italy is forecast at 27.74GWh/h on Tuesday, up from 26.25GWh/h on Monday, Reuters data showed.
  • Power demand in Italy is forecast at 32.35GWh/h on Tuesday, from 30.78GWh/h on Monday, Reuters data showed.
  • Italian residential/commercial gas consumption is forecast at 49.9mcm/d on Tuesday, from 46.4mcm/d on Monday according to Bloomberg.
  • Italy’s hydro balance forecast has been revised down up to end at 455GWh on 26 October, from 256GWh previously, Bloomberg data showed. 

Historical bullets

AUSSIE 3-YEAR TECHS: (U5) Bounces Further Off Support

Sep-12 21:45
  • RES 3: 97.190 - High May 5 2023
  • RES 2: 96.932 - 76.4% of Mar-Nov ‘23 bear leg 
  • RES 1: 96.860 - High Apr 07
  • PRICE: 96.550 @ 15:36 BST Sep 12
  • SUP 1: 96.430/95.900 - Low Sep 3 / Low Jan 14  
  • SUP 2: 95.760 - Low 14 Nov ‘24
  • SUP 3: 95.480 - Low Jan 11 2023 and a major support 

Aussie 3-yr futures are trading off recent lows. A resumption of gains from here would further narrow the gap with resistance at 96.730, the Sep 17 ‘24 high, leaving 96.860 as the next key level. Any continuation lower would instead strengthen a bearish threat. This would refocus attention on 95.760, the 14 Nov ‘24 low. Conversely, a reversal higher would open 96.860, the Apr 7 high.

FED: MNI Fed Preview-September 2025: A Reluctant Return To Easing

Sep-12 21:16

We've published our preview of the upcoming FOMC meeting - Download Full Report Here

  • The Federal Reserve is set to resume its easing cycle at the September 16-17 meeting with a 25bp cut to the funds rate range to 4.00-4.25%.
  • The decision to cut after a 5-meeting pause was well-telegraphed by Chair Powell, whose Jackson Hole speech described a “shifting balance of risks” toward a weaker labor market that “may warrant adjusting our policy stance”.
  • The updated quarterly projections aren’t likely to bring many changes to the macroeconomic variables, but as usual the signal sent from the Fed rate “Dot Plot” will garner attention. A Committee split between expecting one or two further cuts this year is likely, keeping each of the remaining meetings of 2025 “live”.
  • The Statement will downgrade the description of the labor market to reflect a rise in the unemployment rate and poor payrolls growth, and is likely to include at least one dissent to the rate decision.
  • But with a Committee that is fairly divided on the way forward, Powell will be noncommittal on future action, reiterating that policy is not on a preset course, and upcoming decisions will be data-dependent.
  • A key undercurrent is an increasingly activist approach to Fed personnel management from the White House, which leaves the composition of the FOMC uncertain not just over the medium-term but also at this meeting. 

MNI’s separate preview of sell-side analyst summaries to follow on Monday Sep 15

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Source: Federal Reserve, MNI Markets Team Expectations

RATINGS: Fitch: France Cut To A+ From AA, Portugal Up To A From A-

Sep-12 21:07

Fitch has downgraded France's sovereign rating to A+ (with stable outlook) from AA-. Release here.

  • Among other factors in the decision, Fitch cites "High and Rising Debt Ratio", "Political Fragmentation Hinders Consolidation", "Weak Fiscal Record", "High 2025 Deficit", "Uncertain Fiscal Consolidation Path", and "Fiscal Rigidities".
  • In "Factors that Could, Individually or Collectively, Lead to Negative Rating Action/Downgrade", Fitch cites "Public Finances: A sustained increase in government debt/GDP over the medium term, due to failure to implement fiscal consolidation measures and/or a persistent increase in financing costs" and "Macro: Materially lower economic growth prospects and weakened competitiveness." Conversely, potentially leading to positive ratings action would be "Public Finances: Confidence that government debt/GDP will be put on a downward trajectory over the medium term, for example, due to fiscal consolidation and/or stronger economic growth".
  • Fitch also raised Portugal to A (stable outlook) from A-, while elsewhere, S&P raised Spain to A+ (stable outlook) from A.
  • As MNI wrote earlier, we expected France to be downgraded to A+ and Portugal to be upgraded to A.