Prompt

March natural gas futures finally got a little traction Tuesday, but not enough to break out of their recently formed $5.95-6.27 trading range. While the prompt month gained 8.2 cents on the session to settle at $6.175, market watchers still question what the next move will be.

The previous day’s strength in energy futures, along with a major winter storm poised to keep much of the West wet and cold throughout the weekend, were credited with making prices a mixed bag Friday, instead of the overall softening that some had expected due to moderating weather in the Midwest and Northeast.

After another wild week in the natural gas futures arena, the prompt month took a much deserved day off Friday. Trading within a 21-cent band on the session, January natural gas limped to a $6.796 settle, down 1.5 cents from Thursday.

After another wild week in the natural gas futures arena, the prompt month took a much deserved day off Friday. Trading within a 21-cent band on the session, January natural gas limped to a $6.796 settle, down 1.5 cents from Thursday.

Higher natural gas prices have prompted New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources, to request its second rate hike in less than five months. NJNG notified the state’s Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on Monday of plans to increase prices by 5% effective Dec. 1; the utility requested a gas rate hike in June, which took effect in October.

Higher natural gas prices have prompted New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources, to request its second rate hike in less than five months. NJNG notified the state’s Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on Monday of plans to increase prices by 5% effective Dec. 1; the utility requested a gas rate hike in June, which took effect in October.

Continuing the downward trend, December natural gas futures fell 24.5 cents Friday to settle below the $8 mark at $7.954. For the week, the prompt month fell 77.1 cents from the previous Friday’s $8.725 close.

Continuing the downward trend, December natural gas futures fell 24.5 cents Friday to settle below the $8 mark at $7.954. For the week, the prompt month fell 77.1 cents from the previous Friday’s $8.725 close.

The New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) is planning to release a report before the end of this year detailing the types of participants in the natural gas and crude oil futures markets, Nymex President James Newsome, former chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), said in an interview with NGI last Thursday.