Handful

Physical natural gas prices on Friday played catch-up with Thursday’s futures collapse, and weekend and Monday gas at all but a handful of points scored double-digit losses averaging 16 cents.

Cash market prices on average fell 4 cents Tuesday as a handful of points showing gains of a few pennies had no chance of offsetting a broad and pervasive decline.

The cash market scored an average gain of 8 cents in Tuesday’s trading. Gains were widespread and only a handful of thinly traded points fell into the loss column.

Cash natural gas prices overall declined an average of 2 cents Monday, but if the sharp declines posted at a handful of Northeast points are excluded, the overall market would have shown an average rise of 6 cents.

A small handful of cold, hard numbers tells why Canadian unconventional natural gas is forced to rely on elusive Asian exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to thaw out drilling prospects.

A small handful of cold, hard numbers tells why Canadian shale gas is forced to rely on elusive Asian exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to thaw out drilling prospects

Cash prices overall gained about a dime at most points, but if a handful of New England and highly volatile eastern points are factored in, the national average gain on Monday for Tuesday delivery came in at just under a penny.

Cash natural gas prices fell by a nickel on average Tuesday as a handful of multi-dollar gains posted on Northeast pipes were unable to offset a broad retreat at Great Lakes, eastern and most other locations, as well as a weak screen. At the close of trading January futures had given up 5.2 cents to $3.539 and February had eased 5.3 cents to $3.562. January crude oil fell 59 cents to $88.50/bbl.

Cash prices overall were 7 cents higher Monday on average as prices staged a broad rally with only a handful of points in the loss column. Midcontinent, East, and Northeast locations were strong. Futures trading was generally lackluster for the early part of the session, then declined as traders absorbed a survey showing expectations of lower prices next week. At the close November had fallen 16.5 cents to $3.452 and December had slumped 17.9 cents to $3.768. November crude oil slumped $1.32 on its last trading day to $88.73/bbl.