Further gradual improvement in weather-driven demand expectations and continued strength in export levels offset a bearish storage report and boosted natural gas futures on Friday.  

The December Nymex contract gained 1.9 cents day/day and settled at $2.995/MMBtu. It had climbed as much as 10 cents higher in morning trading. January rose 2.8 cents to $3.122.

NGI’s Spot Gas National Avg. dipped 6.5 cents to $2.600 after posting gains each of the four previous days.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported an injection of 8 Bcf into storage for the week ending Nov. 6. The result was shy of market expectations and notably bearish compared to a week earlier, when EIA reported a withdrawal of 36 Bcf that marked the first pull of the season.

It also was well...