Natural gas price nears $5/MMBtu. German DAX hits three-week high

The Dow Jones Index (US30) fell by 0.07% on Thursday. The S&P 500 Index (US500) rose by 0.11%. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Index (US100) closed lower by 0.10%. The US indices finished Thursday with mixed to slightly higher results as markets awaited the Fed’s decision, having generally already priced in a 25 basis point rate cut. Weak hiring data from ADP and a rise in announced layoffs bolstered expectations for policy easing, although initial jobless claims unexpectedly fell, giving a mixed signal on the labor market. Initial jobless claims in the US dropped to 191 thousand, the lowest level since September 2022. The figures confirm that the labor market is cooling due to weaker hiring. The number of continuing claims also slightly declined, remaining above post-pandemic recovery levels.

European stocks traded mixed on Thursday. The German DAX (DE40) rose by 0.79%, the French CAC 40 (FR 40) closed up by 0.43%, the Spanish IBEX 35 Index (ES35) gained 0.97%, and the British FTSE 100 (UK100) closed higher by 0.19%. The Frankfurt DAX reached a three-week high, outperforming most other European markets. The main driver was the auto sector after Bank of America upgraded its 2026 prognoses and EU officials hinted at a potential retreat from a complete ban on internal combustion engines. Against this backdrop, shares of Porsche, Daimler Truck, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen saw solid gains, supporting the index’s overall rise.

WTI crude oil prices held around $59.7 per barrel on Friday, remaining at a two-week high amid heightened geopolitical risks. Markets reacted to signals of potential US measures against Venezuela and the lack of progress in Ukraine negotiations, supporting supply concerns. Expectations of US rate cuts, which could stimulate demand, provided additional support to prices, although worries about weak consumption and supply surplus limited gains.

The US natural gas (XNG) prices fell to $4.95/MMBtu, correcting from a three-year peak after EIA data showed higher-than-expected inventory levels. Despite this, prices remain approximately 70% above October lows thanks to rising export demand: US LNG exports in November increased by 40% year-over-year, and Europe is accelerating its move away from Russian gas, planning to completely cease LNG imports from the Russian Federation by 2027.

Asian markets traded mixed yesterday. The Japanese Nikkei 225 (JP225) rose by 2.33%, the Chinese FTSE China A50 (CHA50) gained 0.43%, the Hong Kong Hang Seng (HK50) was up by 0.68%, and the Australian ASX 200 (AU200) showed a positive result of 0.27%.