With a lighter-than-average inventory build this week leaving traders to contemplate stubborn storage deficits following a hot summer, natural gas futures continued to rebound in early trading Friday. The October Nymex contract was up 19.6 cents to $8.111/MMBtu as of around 8:55 a.m. ET.

NGI Morning Natural Gas Price & Markets Coverage

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Thursday reported a 54 Bcf injection into U.S. natural gas storage for the week ended Sept. 2. The print was in line with pre-report expectations and lighter than the five-year average injection of 65 Bcf.

Total Lower 48 inventories stood at 2,694 Bcf as of Sept. 2, 349 Bcf (minus 11.5%) below the five-year average, according to EIA.

“This week’s reported injection was 7 Bcf lower than last week despite a notable increase in nuclear/renewable...