Eked

February natural gas futures eked out a small gain Wednesday as traders adjusted positions ahead of options expiration. At the close February rose 1.8 cents to $4.491 and March added 1.1 cents to $4.501. March crude oil jumped $1.14 to $87.35/bbl.

Interstate natural gas pipelines have eked out economic and transportation efficiency gains on their systems despite challenges on the financial, regulatory and legislative fronts, according to a white paper released last Wednesday by the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA).

Interstate natural gas pipelines have eked out economic and transportation efficiencies on their systems over the years despite challenges on the financial, regulatory and legislative fronts, according to a white paper released Wednesday by the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA).

Trading within a 10-cent range in a quiet Friday session, September natural gas futures on Friday eked out a 3.2-cent gain to close at $4.328, but some market watchers were quick to note that the market remains hopelessly range-bound. The week’s close was 13.9 cents below the previous week’s finish.

The market eked out small increases Tuesday that generally were a nickel or less. A screen uptick of nearly a dime provided some upward momentum, sources said, but cash traders more likely were anticipating what is expected to be the smallest AGA storage injection report in many weeks.

Stemming a string of expiration-day losses at six, natural gas futures eked out a slim gain Friday as traders covered shorts ahead of the weekend and in anticipation of hot weather forecast for this week. The August contract went off the board without much fanfare, up 3.9 cents for the session and 21.2 cents for the week, but down 11.9 cents since it became the prompt contract back on June 27. Estimated volume was modest for an expiration day, with just 92,001 contracts changing hands.

Natural gas futures eked out its eighth-straight daily gainyesterday as traders erased early foray into negative territorywith storm-related buying in the afternoon. The September contractled the charge, advancing 4.9 cents to finish at $4.468. Estimatedvolume was light as only 58,956 contracts changed hands.