With the latest government storage data expected to show a hefty weekly injection, adding to an already comfortable cushion in Lower 48 inventories at this point in the season, natural gas futures extended their recent losses in early trading Thursday. 

AM markets

After sliding 9.5 cents in the previous session, the October Nymex contract was down 7.5 cents to $2.192/MMBtu at around 8:45 a.m. ET.

Estimates have been pointing to build in the neighborhood of 80 Bcf from the latest U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) weekly storage report, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET. 

A Bloomberg survey found estimates ranging from 68 Bcf to 81 Bcf, with a median of 78 Bcf, while a Reuters poll found a low estimate of 68 Bcf and a high of 85 Bcf with a median of 80 Bcf. NGI’s model predicted an...