After forecasts, still offering plenty of frigid January temperatures, saw no major changes over the long weekend, natural gas futures traded slightly higher early Tuesday. The February Nymex contract was up 4.2 cents to $4.304/MMBtu at around 8:55 a.m. ET.

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At A Glance:

  • Cold front looms but may not last into February
  • Further freeze-offs could keep output low
  • European demand for U.S. exports remains high

Natural gas futures trended lower early Friday amid hints of long-range warmth but ultimately finished nearly flat as cash markets and export demand held strong. The February Nymex gas futures contract settled at $4.262/MMBtu, down eight-tenths of a cent day/day. March, however, gained 7.6 cents to $4.081.

Cash prices also advanced. Forecasts showed strong heating demand both...