U.S. utilities injected 52 Bcf natural gas into storage for the week ended Sept. 3, a result that exceeded analysts’ expectations but fell short of historic averages, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Thursday. The print left supply/demand balances tight and drove up natural gas futures.

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Ahead of the EIA print, the October contract was down 4.0 cents at $4.874/MMBtu. However, the prompt month pared those losses when the EIA data was released at 10:30 ET and briefly held flat from the prior day’s close. By 11 a.m. ET, it had gathered momentum and was ahead 8.9 cents to $5.003. The October contract had rallied furiously over the previous trading session on Wednesday.

“It was warmer than normal over most of the U.S. besides the Northwest and the Gulf...