Lifted

Mexico last Monday lifted its 4% tariff on natural gas importedfrom the United States, the Energy Ministry announced. This clearsthe way for expanded gas sales by U.S. companies into thefast-growing markets in northern Mexico.

Northern Natural Gas said it lifted a System Underrun Limitationthat had been posted for Tuesday and today.

Adding to Monday’s gains the natural gas futures continuedhigher at Nymex yesterday as technical buying lifted the Junecontract in active trading. And with that 4.8-cent rally to $2.359,June was able to successfully fill in $2.31-33 daily chart gap andnotch its highest daily close in more than a year.

The futures market continued to spike higher at Nymex yesterday,adding to advances that have lifted the October contract 36.3 centssince last week. October finished the day up 11.8 cents to settleat $2.241. In doing so, natural gas futures set a new daily volumerecord with an estimated 142,867 contracts changing hands.