Daniel Rogers
Apr 19, 2023 15:46
During the early hours of Wednesday morning in Europe, the price of natural gas (XNG / USD) reverses course from its greatest levels in a month to post modest losses of approximately $2.51. As a result, the energy instrument breaks a three-day winning stretch amid negative sentiment and the most recent dollar recovery.
Recent news articles concerning the US House China Committee's discussion of the Taiwan invasion scenario and a likely delay on the US debt ceiling decision appear to have agitated the risk profile. Recent unfavorable US data and hawkish Fed forecasts may be on the same trajectory. It should be noted that a divided earnings season influences sentiment and the price of Natural Gas.
In addition, Bloomberg released news indicating China's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which, along with US President Joe Biden's reluctance to negotiate the debt limit, weighed on sentiment.
The recent decline in the XNG/USD price appears to be the result of a combination of factors, including reports that the United Kingdom has sufficient natural gas supplies to last through the winter and concerns about the likelihood of milder weather in the West. The Financial Times (FT) may have reported similar information: "The EU is storing record amounts of natural gas after a milder-than-expected winter, bolstering hopes that the bloc can wean itself off imports from Russia." According to the industry group Gas Infrastructure Europe, the bloc's storage capacity reached 55.7% at the beginning of the month, the highest level for early April since at least 2011.
In spite of this, the US Dollar Index (DXY) reverses its previous recovery from a one-year low and gains offers to 101.80 at the latest.
The previous day, the dollar index versus six main currencies reversed course in response to declining yields. In spite of this, US 10-year and 2-year Treasury bond coupons declined for the first time in four days by the end of Tuesday, hovering around 3.59 and 4.29 percent at the time of publication.
As a result of these trades, S&P 500 Futures have retreated from their greatest levels since early February, which were recorded the day before, and are currently trading near 4,178. Notable is the fact that the US stock futures ended their two-day winning trend with the most recent inactivity.
The news surrounding China and the US Federal Reserve (Fed), as well as the Fed Beige Book, can occupy Natural Gas traders until Thursday's release of weekly inventory data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).