Physical

Physical natural gas prices fell a couple of pennies on average Wednesday, but if constrained market points in the East on pipelines such as Algonquin, Iroquois, Transco, and Tennessee were held out of the mix, then the overall market loss would increase to about a nickel. Futures trading was light and traders suggest now might be a good time to sell irrespective of Thursday’s inventory report. At the close of futures trading April fell 5.9 cents to $3.470 and May dropped 5.6 cents to $3.519.

Cash market trading yielded a decline of 2 cents overall Friday, but if the sizable losses on Tennessee and Algonquin are factored out, the physical market scored a 2-cent advance.

Physical natural gas prices rose on average 7 cents in Wednesday’s trading. Eastern points exhibited strength as the bone-chilling cold and snow that raked the Plains headed east; relatively few points experienced losses. Midwest locations were mostly steady. At the close of futures trading April had eased 2.2 cents to $3.434 and May was 2.3 cents lower at $3.481. April crude oil rose 13 cents to end the day at $92.76/bbl.

Physical gas prices Tuesday overall on average added about 6 cents with nearly all points experiencing gains. Midwest points were firm as an exiting storm still made itself felt in the form of 30 mph gusts and typically constrained points in the Northeast also made outsized gains. The expiring March futures contract exited on a modest note, and at the end of trading March had risen 1.3 cents to $3.427 and April had fallen 1.4 cents to $3.456. April crude oil lost 48 cents to $92.63/bbl.

Physical gas prices Friday were within a penny or two of unchanged at most points, and if you exclude Northeast price plunges, the overall market shed an average of a penny. However, if wide-ranging losses in the East and Northeast are factored in, the decline on the day expands to a dime.

Thanks to volatile Northeast gas prices, the national average for physical natural gas traded Thursday for Friday delivery dropped nearly 50 cents.

Physical natural gas prices at most points across the country rose about a dime Tuesday, but if the highly volatile Northeast is added to the mix, the overall change is a loss of about 3 cents.

Physical gas prices overall on average for weekend and Monday delivery rose a stout 25 cents, but subtracting the price effects of such congested Northeast pipelines as Algonquin, Iroquois, portions of Tennessee and parts of Transco, a broad based decline averaging 8 cents appeared. No points outside of the East and Northeast experienced gains. At the close of futures trading March had shed 1.0 cents to $3.153 and April was down 1.3 cents to $3.218. March crude oil fell $1.45 to $95.86/bbl.

The physical gas market overall on average Thursday was unchanged, but once the wide-swinging Northeast pipes that include Algonquin, Iroquois and portions of Tennessee are factored in, the picture changes to a loss of 21 cents. Most cash trades were completed before the 10:30 a.m EST release of storage data by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), but the 157 Bcf withdrawal was less than the market was expecting, and futures slumped. At the close March had dropped 14.3 cents to $3.163 and April was off 14.0 cents to $3.231. March crude oil fell 30 cents to $97.31/bbl.