European Gas Prices Rise Amid Middle East Conflict Concerns

Natural gas prices in Europe increased by 2% during early trading on Monday, as ongoing conflict in the Middle East injected fresh volatility into the market. By 1:30 p.m. Bulgarian time, Dutch TTF futures had risen about 2%, returning above €40 per megawatt-hour, inching closer to the 10-month high of 41 euros reached on October 7. This rise follows a surge in oil prices, as markets weigh the risk of a broader regional conflict stemming from escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, which could potentially impact gas supplies.

Over the weekend, Hezbollah launched a drone attack near Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence. In response, Israel conducted fresh military strikes targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, which is backed by Iran. Israel has also vowed retaliation against Iran for a large-scale missile attack on the European nation earlier in October.

Geopolitical uncertainties have driven fluctuations in gas prices recently, emphasizing Europe's vulnerability as the heating season begins. A key worry for the energy market is the possibility of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for LNG and oil shipments from the Persian Gulf.

Chevron Corp., which operates Israel's Leviathan and Tamar offshore gas fields, confirmed on Monday that operations remain normal. "We continue to provide natural gas to our customers in Israel and the region from both Leviathan and Tamar," said spokeswoman Sally Jones in a statement to Bloomberg.

Florence Schmit, a European energy strategist at Rabobank, highlighted that the market remains cautious about a possible Israeli reaction to the Iranian attack on October 1, which adds pressure to an already tight winter outlook for European gas. "This uncertainty...