TTF prices fall to 18-month low

European natural gas futures slipped to nearly €30 per megawatt-hour on Friday, the lowest since May 2024, as momentum toward peace talks between Ukraine, the US, and Russia coincided with softer demand expectations.

President Zelenskiy signaled readiness to work on a peace plan shaped by the US and Russia, raising the possibility of sanctions being lifted and allowing more Russian energy onto global markets.

At the same time, forecasts for late November and early December suggest temperatures returning to normal or slightly warmer levels in northwest Europe, which would reduce heating demand.

Still, short-term weather projections have been shifting rapidly, keeping traders cautious.

Gas inventories are declining during the current cold spell, with storage levels slipping below 81%, versus about 90% a year earlier.