European Gas Prices Steady as Traders Await Trump–Putin Meeting

European benchmark natural-gas contracts edged slightly lower on Thursday but remained confined to a week-long trading band, as traders awaited an upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Market participants said the bilateral talks could shed light on future U.S. sanctions policy and Russian supply commitments, keeping volumes muted and price moves subdued ahead of the summit. Oil-linked fuel markets showed a mixed picture elsewhere. Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy reported that the country’s average retail price for regular gasoline rose for a fourth consecutive week to ¥174.90 per litre as of Aug. 12, approaching a two-year high. Analysts attributed the increase to firmer crude prices and expectations that reduced geopolitical risk from the Trump-Putin dialogue could support demand.