Regions

Forecasts of high temperatures on either side of 90 in many regions and even greater in the South, Midcontinent and parts of the West revived the spot market by generally small amounts Thursday. A tropical wave was still too close to West Africa to be a factor, but the previous day’s 4.8-cent futures drop had essentially no impact as a negative guide for cash prices.

Marginal increases in temperature forecasts in several regions kept prices rising at nearly all points Tuesday. Otherwise, fundamentals such as slight prior-day futures weakness and the lack of any Atlantic tropical activity argued against any continued market firmness.

The natural gas market made it four in a row Thursday as prior-day screen support and chilly temperatures in a number of regions around the country led to cash point increases at a vast majority of locations.

Several flat to about a nickel higher points in various regions managed to escape the overall moderate softness that enveloped the market Tuesday. The previous day’s half-penny advance by May futures did nothing to influence cash numbers, so the physical market finally had to acknowledge that advances in the past few days were made with essentially no support from weather fundamentals.

Several flat to about a nickel higher points in various regions managed to escape the overall moderate softness that enveloped the market Tuesday. The previous day’s half-penny advance by May futures did nothing to influence cash numbers, so the physical market finally had to acknowledge that advances in the past few days were made with essentially no support from weather fundamentals.

With many regions of the United States greeting warmer-than-normal temperatures over the last few days, traders came to work Monday with a little bit of spring fever as April natural gas futures continued to probe new lows in the larger move downward.

With many regions of the United States greeting warmer-than-normal temperatures over the last few days, traders came to work Monday with a little bit of spring fever as April natural gas futures continued to probe new lows in the larger move downward.

Natural gas-fired power plants will likely give coal-fired generators some time off this summer, at least in some regions of the country, as coal and gas are set to fight for market share for a second year in a row and coal will help define gas prices for a portion of the year, analysts at Barclays Capital said last week.

Natural gas-fired power plants will likely give coal-fired generators some time off this summer, at least in some regions of the country, as coal and gas are set to fight for market share for a second year in a row and coal will help define gas prices for a portion of the year, analysts at Barclays Capital said Tuesday.