Following back-to-back gains, natural gas futures faltered Wednesday, held in check by meager export volumes and expectations for the next government inventory report to show continued stout supplies in underground storage.

At A Glance:

  • Production at 96.5 Bcf/d
  • Uneven weather outlook
  • Storage situation improves

The August Nymex gas futures contract settled at $2.632/MMBtu, down 9.9 cents day/day. September shed 9.5 cents to $2.597.

NGI’s Spot Gas National Avg. slipped 4.0 cents to $2.410.

Wood Mackenzie data showed production still off more than 1 Bcf/d from summer highs of 102 Bcf/d because of maintenance events in the Northeast. Output had dipped below 100 Bcf/d early in the week. But the work was expected to prove short in duration and production showed no other...