Fears that Europe could run low on natural gas this winter eased, sending fuel prices lower, after Russian President Vladimir Putin told Gazprom PJSC to ship more gas westward.
European gas futures slid by almost 10% Thursday after Mr. Putin said the state energy giant should pump more gas to Germany and Austria as soon as it has filled stores at home. Gazprom’s underground storage sites in Western and Central Europe are almost empty at a time of year when they would normally be brimming.