Natural gas futures retreated a bit Tuesday as the latest weather models showed the cooler pattern expected in early November quickly fading. Though losses were far steeper earlier in the session, the November Nymex futures contract settled only 1.6 cents lower day/day at $5.882/MMBtu. December slid 5.3 cents to $6.003.

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At A Glance:

  • Upcoming cold front not expected to last
  • Market observers hike price projections
  • Cash strong on coasts

Spot gas prices also started to buckle in most of the United States, though some locations continued to strengthen on bouts of early-season chilly weather. NGI’s Spot Gas National Avg. slipped 1.5 cents to $5.550.

Notwithstanding the brief surge to $6.000 on Monday, natural gas futures have struggled to maintain the lofty levels resulting in...