Mixed

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) plans to release a technical guidance this week explaining the details of wastewater regulations revised last year.

Harnessing the momentum from Tuesday’s 15.3-cent plummet in December natural gas futures, traders continued to probe the downside Wednesday with mixed results. After starting the regular session with a low of $3.733, the prompt month contract reached a high of $3.800 just after 1 p.m. EDT before trimming lower to close at $3.749, down 3.2 cents from Tuesday’s regular session finish.

Somewhat improbably, the cash market built upon Friday’s modest gains, which came amidst mixed price moves, with a fairly strong advance across the board Monday. The return of industrial load from its weekend dip was a minor bullish factor, but otherwise reasons for Monday’s upticks were difficult to discern.

Price moves continued to be mixed Tuesday, but this time flat to higher numbers nearly overwhelmed the occasional small loss. Although any potential tropical threat was still remote, the previous day’s 2-cent futures uptick along with scattered moderate increases in both heating and cooling load were enough to firm quotes at nearly all points.

Early reaction to the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission’s (MSAC) final report is mixed, with environmental groups praising some recommendations while criticizing omissions, industry promising cooperation and lawmakers offering a skeptical shrug.

Early reaction to the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission’s (MSAC) final report is mixed, with environmental groups praising some recommendations while criticizing omissions, industry promising cooperation and lawmakers offering a skeptical shrug.

Price movement was approximately evenly mixed between small gains and small losses of up to nearly a dime either way. Flat quotes were common, and none of the changes up or down reached double digits. The increases tended to be concentrated in the Midcontinent and Rockies.

The spot market saw mixed price movement Tuesday, but softening points were in a clear majority. Relatively moderate conditions in most of the Northeast and a reduction of strong heat developing in the western South lowered much of the weather-based load that had lifted nearly all locations a day earlier. Monday’s 6.6-cent drop by prompt-month futures was a further depressant for the Tuesday market.

The market continued to see mixed, mostly near-flat price movement but was showing signs of perking up again by following the previous day’s losses at a majority of points with moderate gains being prevalent Thursday.