After nearly three years of lurching between panic and euphoria, U.S. natural gas markets are finally catching their breath. Volatility in the Henry Hub front-month futures contract—a key benchmark for U.S. gas prices—has fallen sharply in the first half of 2025, signaling a return to something resembling stability. According to newly released data from Bloomberg and highlighted by the EIA, annualized volatility dropped from a frothy 81% in Q4 2024 to 69% by mid-2025. While that’s still elevated compared to pre-2022 norms, it’s…

After nearly three years of lurching between panic and euphoria, U.S. natural gas markets are finally catching their breath. Volatility in the Henry Hub front-month futures contract—a key benchmark for U.S. gas prices—has fallen sharply in the first half of 2025, signaling a return to something resembling stability. According to newly released data from Bloomberg and highlighted by the EIA, annualized volatility dropped from a frothy 81% in Q4 2024 to 69% by mid-2025. While that’s still elevated compared to pre-2022 norms, it’s…

A poster held by a protester in Kyiv captured the anger and disbelief many Ukrainians are feeling after parliament passed a bill -– swiftly signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy -– that critics say will curb the independence of two key anti-corruption agencies and badly set back the country’s hard-won progress toward democracy and the rule of law. "This is not the future my brother died for,” it read. In just a few words, that message touched on at least a dozen years of Ukraine’s tumultuous recent history, from…

Electricity generation in the United States hit a record high in the first half of the year, as power demand is growing with data center expansion. Electricity provided by utilities in the U.S. rose by 4% in January to June, to an all-time high of 2,188 terawatt hours (TWh) for the period, according to data from clean energy think tank Ember cited by Reuters columnist Gavin Maguire. Fossil fuels continued to supply more than half—or 54.8%—of all electricity. Clean sources held a record-high 45.2% share of electricity generation, up…

The Trump administration is reportedly considering granting limited authorizations to a handful of oil companies operating in Venezuela, with Chevron first in line. The move would mark a shift from Washington’s hardline stance earlier this year, when key licenses were revoked and U.S. firms were ordered to wind down all activity with PDVSA, Venezuela’s state oil company. According to sources familiar with the discussions who spoke to Reuters, the new authorizations would allow Chevron and potentially some European partners like Eni…

The United States has reportedly confirmed a new $235 million infrastructure deal in Libya’s energy sector, reinforcing its presence in a strategically vital corridor for gas exports to Europe. The announcement followed a visit to Tripoli by U.S. presidential adviser Massad Boulos, who endorsed the agreement between Hill International and Mellitah Oil & Gas, a joint venture between Libya’s National Oil Corporation and Italy’s Eni. The project will finance upgrades to pipelines, ports, and logistics corridors tied to the…

Keir Starmer and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have signed a trade deal worth an estimated £6bn, with the UK Prime Minister hailing the landmark agreement a “historic day” for Britain and India. The trade pact – the result of over three years of negotiations – will see tariffs on the whisky and cars that British firms export to India drastically reduced in return for Britain opening up elements labour market to Indian workers. The bilateral deal is understood to be one of the most valuable of its kind to the…

Italian energy services group Saipem expects construction of the $20-billion Mozambique LNG project to restart by the end of the summer after being under force majeure for four years, Saipem’s CEO Alessandro Puliti said on Thursday.  The $20-billion LNG export project in Mozambique led by French supermajor TotalEnergies was halted in 2021 due to a deteriorated security situation and has been under force majeure ever since.  In 2021, following Islamist militant attacks in towns close to the site, TotalEnergies suspended works…

Italian energy services group Saipem expects construction of the $20-billion Mozambique LNG project to restart by the end of the summer after being under force majeure for four years, Saipem’s CEO Alessandro Puliti said on Thursday.  The $20-billion LNG export project in Mozambique led by French supermajor TotalEnergies was halted in 2021 due to a deteriorated security situation and has been under force majeure ever since.  In 2021, following Islamist militant attacks in towns close to the site, TotalEnergies suspended works…

Tesla shares plunged more than 9% at the cash open on Thursday after CEO Elon Musk lamented the company faced some 'rough quarters' ahead on its Q2 earnings call Wednesday evening.  Here is what Tesla reported for Q2: Adjusted EPS 40c vs. 52c y/y, missing estimate 42c (GAAP EPS 33c vs. 42c y/y). According to Bloomberg "investors may be relived it reported adjusted EPS just 2 cents below Wall Street estimates" Revenue $22.50 billion, -12% y/y, missing estimates of $22.64 billion Gross margin 17.2% vs. 18% y/y, beating estimates…

PJM Interconnection, the operator of the largest U.S. electric grid, has issued a maximum generation alert and load management alert for July 24 due to expected high peak load demand amid a heat wave.  PJM Interconnection, whose area covers 13 mid-Atlantic and Midwest states and the District of Columbia, said that the alert does not require any action from customers. It is mostly to notify neighboring systems that electricity exports from PJM may be curtailed on Thursday, the grid operator said.  PJM has also issued a Hot Weather Alert…

The United States on July 23 announced the approval of $322 million in arms sales to bolster Ukraine's air defenses and its armored combat vehicles. The sale of HAWK air defense equipment and sustainment will cost up to $172 million, while Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle equipment and services will total up to $150 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said. The proposed HAWK equipment sale "will improve Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security…

The EU’s solar power market is set to register this year its first annual decline in capacity rollout since 2025, amid the withdrawal of incentive schemes for rooftop solar in key markets, industry association SolarPower Europe said in a mid-year analysis on Thursday.  Current forecasts point to the EU installing 64.2 gigawatts (GW) this year, down by 1.4% compared to 65.1 GW installed in 2024.  That’s despite estimates that solar output in Europe is soaring and is set to boom in the summer.    “The…

The EU’s solar power market is set to register this year its first annual decline in capacity rollout since 2025, amid the withdrawal of incentive schemes for rooftop solar in key markets, industry association SolarPower Europe said in a mid-year analysis on Thursday.  Current forecasts point to the EU installing 64.2 gigawatts (GW) this year, down by 1.4% compared to 65.1 GW installed in 2024.  That’s despite estimates that solar output in Europe is soaring and is set to boom in the summer.    “The…

The EU’s solar power market is set to register this year its first annual decline in capacity rollout since 2025, amid the withdrawal of incentive schemes for rooftop solar in key markets, industry association SolarPower Europe said in a mid-year analysis on Thursday.  Current forecasts point to the EU installing 64.2 gigawatts (GW) this year, down by 1.4% compared to 65.1 GW installed in 2024.  That’s despite estimates that solar output in Europe is soaring and is set to boom in the summer.    “The…

The EU’s solar power market is set to register this year its first annual decline in capacity rollout since 2025, amid the withdrawal of incentive schemes for rooftop solar in key markets, industry association SolarPower Europe said in a mid-year analysis on Thursday.  Current forecasts point to the EU installing 64.2 gigawatts (GW) this year, down by 1.4% compared to 65.1 GW installed in 2024.  That’s despite estimates that solar output in Europe is soaring and is set to boom in the summer.    “The…

U.S. natural gas futures fell for a third consecutive session on Wednesday, hitting its lowest intraday level since late April, as new weather forecasts indicate a much cooler weather pattern unfolding across the Lower 48 for the beginning of August.  Bloomberg cited Darrell Fletcher, managing director of commodities at Bannockburn Capital Markets, who noted that one of the most critical technical support levels for NatGas futures, around $3.20, is currently being tested. As of late Wednesday afternoon, the level had been broken, pushing prices…

Oil prices posted modest gains in early Asia trade on Thursday, recovering from a multi-day slump as a sharper-than-expected draw in U.S. crude inventories revived bullish sentiment. However, concerns over potential disruptions to global trade flows ahead of an approaching tariff deadline kept traders cautious. EIA Inventory Report Lifts Oil Prices The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a substantial 3.17 million-barrel decline in commercial crude inventories for the week ending July 19—nearly double analyst expectations. This…

The UK government has raised the maximum prices it is willing to guarantee developers of wind power projects in a bid to reinvigorate investment in renewable energy and keep its ambitious decarbonization targets on track. The increase, announced on July 23rd, underscores the challenges faced by clean energy developers contending with inflation, rising interest rates, and strained supply chains. New Administrative Strike Prices Under the revised terms for the 2025 round of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction scheme — the UK's primary…

Oil prices fell for a fourth straight session on Wednesday, with lingering uncertainty over looming tariffs by the Trump administration continuing to dampen sentiment ahead of the August 1 deadline, which a Mizuho analyst described for Seeking Alpha as “a possible demand destruction event”. The European Union is reportedly exploring potential counter-measures against the U.S. as the deadline approaches, and on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump set a 15% reciprocal tariff on Japan’s exports to the U.S. Japan cut auto duties,…