Natural gas forwards trading was mixed during the Aug. 18-24 period as the market weighed ongoing supply adequacy concerns and spiking global prices against a later-than-expected return to service for a key U.S. export terminal this fall.

In terms of week/week front-month fixed price changes, the middle third of the Lower 48 was peppered with discounts, while Southeast and Mid-Atlantic hubs saw gains. Benchmark Henry Hub picked up 9.8 cents for the period to average $9.343/MMBtu for September delivery.

Nymex futures flirted with the psychologically significant $10 mark during the Aug. 18-24 period but ultimately backed off following news that the Freeport LNG terminal would return to service starting in November — about a month later than previously anticipated.

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