Rick Margolin News Today

Natural gas futures traded near even Wednesday as the market opted to stay put ahead of the release of government storage data expected to show a ramp up in injections. Shoulder season weather continued to limit spot market action across most regions, though prices fell in constrained West Texas and across much of the West; the NGI National Spot Gas Average fell 3 cents to $2.32.

The February Nymex natural gas futures contract ended on a positive note Tuesday, recovering from early losses as long-range forecasts hinted at more cold arriving after a milder break next week. In the spot market, Midwest prices surged for a second straight day as forecasters were looking for the most extreme temperatures from this week’s polar cold front to hit the region Wednesday; theNGISpot GasNational Avg.added 77.5 cents to $4.400/MMBtu.

Natural gas prices for the Aug. 21-27 period moved lower as much of the United States enjoyed mild temperatures ahead of a warm-up expected later this weekend. Most regions saw prices decline less than a dime, although steeper losses were seen in the Rocky Mountains and along the West Coast, which is finally seeing signs of cooler weather ahead. The NGINational Weekly Gas Avg.dropped 12 cents to $2.79.

Natural gas futures sold off for a third straight session Tuesday, with weak physical prices, cooler forecast trends and the prospect of another above-average inventory build all helping to keep the bulls on the sidelines. Meanwhile, calls for more heat and humidity along the East Coast couldn’t stir up a stagnant spot market; the NGI Spot Gas National Avg. slumped 5.5 cents to $1.875/MMBtu.

A bearish government storage report, combined with forecasts showing too little cold too late in the season, pressured natural gas futures lower Thursday.