Utilities withdrew 23 Bcf of natural gas from storage for the week ended March 31, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Thursday. The result was essentially on par with market expectations, leaving Nymex natural gas futures to drift lower.

“Overall neutral release,” said one participant on the online energy platform Enelyst.

Ahead of the 10:30 ET print, the May Nymex futures contract was down 2.0 cents to $2.135/MMBtu. When the EIA data was released, the prompt month hovered around $2.107.

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By around 11 a.m., May futures were off 6.0 cents from the...