{
  "id": 12107811,
  "title": "European natural gas bourses rangebound as traders assess Middle-East attacks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/european-natural-gas-bourses-rangebound-as-traders-assess-middle-east",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-05T08:30:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/european-natural-gas-bourses-rangebound-as-traders-assess-middleeast-attacks-4931202"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "European and British wholesale natural gas prices remained relatively stable on Monday, after experiencing significant gains over recent weeks. This slowdown occurred as traders weighed the impact of escalating Middle East military tensions against the possibility of a partial supply recovery in the Persian Gulf. The Dutch benchmark front-month contract declined by 0.2%, settling at 74.50 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh), hovering near multi-week highs. In the United Kingdom, the corresponding wholesale gas contract dropped 0.5%, trading at 187.00 pence per therm.\n\nYemen's government, backed by Saudi Arabia and recognized internationally, launched a major military operation to reclaim territories held by Iran-backed Houthi forces. In response, Houthi militants fired ballistic missiles and deployed attack drones at Saudi Aramco energy facilities south of Riyadh. This action raised concerns among global energy traders about potential disruptions to energy infrastructure. However, the immediate effect on global energy markets was limited, as traders analyzed the news that Saudi Arabia had partially restored operations on its East-West Pipeline and resumed loading Red Sea tankers at Yanbu, following previous supply interruptions.\n\nDespite the brief pause in gas bourses, institutional energy traders emphasized that European natural gas curves still possess a robust structural foundation as the continent approaches the winter heating season. Gas storage facilities across the European Union are currently about 12 percentage points below the inventory levels observed at the same time last year, leaving the region unusually susceptible to unexpected cold spells or disruptions in energy transit. Bank of America analysts noted that the Middle East crisis is contributing to higher energy prices, which in turn are influencing inflation and interest rates. These factors are collectively restraining economic growth. However, Bank of America does not foresee a major energy-driven recession, as they believe that both energy prices and interest rates remain insufficient to dampen demand.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "European and British gas prices stable amid Middle East tensions",
    "Yemen offensive against Houthi forces sparks supply disruption concerns",
    "EU gas storage low, recession unlikely despite higher energy prices"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}