(Before It's News)
MTECHTIPS:-Natural gas futures extend losses after U.S. storage data disappoints
U.S. natural gas futures were sharply lower on Thursday, extending losses after data showed U.S. natural gas supplies in storage fell less than expected last week. Natural gas for delivery in March on the New York Mercantile Exchange tumbled 4.5 cents, or 2.21%, to trade at $1.993 per million British thermal units by 14:35 GMT, or 9:35AM ET. Prices were at around $1.996 prior to the release of the supply data. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report that natural gas storage in the U.S. in the week ended January 29 fell by 152 billion cubic feet, compared to expectations for a decline of 158 billion. That compares with draws of 211 billion cubic feet in the prior week, 115 billion cubic feet in the same week last year and a five-year average of 178 billion. Total U.S. natural gas storage stood at 2.934 trillion cubic feet, 16.7% higher than levels at this time a year ago and 15.1% above the five-year average for this time of year. Natural gas is down 13% so far this week as milder weather forecast for the last eight weeks of the U.S. November-March winter heating season dampened demand hopes. Bearish speculators are betting on the mild winter weather to reduce demand for the heating fuel. The heating season from November through March is the peak demand period for U.S. gas consumption. Prices sank to $1.684 in mid-December, a level not seen in almost 17 years, as an unusually mild start to winter due to the El Niño weather phenomenon limited the amount of heating days.
WWW.MTECHTIPS.COM
07489294118-119
Register
Newsletter
If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:
