ROME (Reuters) -The European Union should extend its emergency cap on gas prices and set a ceiling of 60 euros per megawatt hour to prevent a possible energy price shock, Italy's Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said on Friday. Fears of an energy shock have risen after Ukraine refused to renew a gas transit agreement with Russia, marking the end of decades of Moscow's dominance over Europe's energy markets. The EU's existing price cap expires at the end of this month and only applies if European gas prices exceed 180 euros per megawatt hour, a level that has not been reached since the early days of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The UKHSA has also issued a cold weather health alert for England.
Dow Jones futures rose Friday ahead of economic data. Nvidia stock is again testing a key resistance level.