Utilities withdrew 91 Bcf of natural gas from storage for the week ended Jan. 20, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Thursday. The draw was greater than market expectations but anemic relative to historic norms, keeping pressure on already beaten-down Nymex natural gas futures.

Just ahead of the 10:30 ET government report on Thursday, the February gas futures contract was down 19.6 cents at $2.719/MMBtu. The prompt month treaded water around $2.733 right after the EIA data was released.

By 11 a.m. ET it was down 18.7 cents to $2.728. 

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