Rose

June natural gas futures rose in active trading Friday as both oil and gas traders reacted to government warnings related to data showing al Qaeda’s interest in targeting oil and gas installations. At the closing bell June futures had gained 13.6 cents to $4.230 and July had risen 12.9 cents to $4.290. June crude oil gained $1.05 to $99.49/bbl.

June natural gas futures rose Friday as traders saw the market showing some short-term technical strength and gas-driven rig count figures showed a sizeable drop. At the close June had risen 5.2 cents to $4.246 and July added 5.5 cents to $4.311. June crude oil added 68 cents to $99.65/bbl.

June natural gas futures rose Tuesday as analysts saw the gain as consistent with movement within the market’s prevailing price parameters. Prices may take some guidance from the oil markets during a time when weather-driven fundamentals have minimal market-moving capability. At the close June had gained 9.2 cents to $4.246 and July added 8.7 cents to $4.303. June crude oil continued its journey higher rising $1.33 to $103.88/bbl.

CenterPoint Energy Inc. said Thursday its natural gas gathering volumes rose significantly during the first quarter, with shale gas accounting for most of the total as traditional basins fell. The company also continued to make progress on gathering systems in the Haynesville Shale.

Natural gas futures rose Friday as traders attempted to factor in the loss of generation from the Browns Ferry nuclear plant and continued bullishness derived from Thursday’s inventory report. At the close June had risen 12.7 cents to $4.698 and July was up 12.8 cents to $4.761. June crude oil added $1.07 to $113.93/bbl.

May natural gas futures rose Tuesday as traders saw the market trading in concert with other energy futures but noted that it was still confined to a trading range. At the close May natural gas was up 12.4 cents to $4.262 and June had gained 12.0 cents to $4.310. May crude oil partially recovered from Monday’s $2.54 drubbing and added $1.03 to $108.15/bbl.

May natural gas futures rose in active inventory report-driven trading Thursday. Government gas storage figures came in less than anticipated and prompted an immediate price advance.

Enthusiasm for uncovering oil deposits in the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas hasn’t waned at El Paso Corp. In fact, the company likely will move more rigs into its leasehold as the year progresses, CEO Doug Foshee said Thursday.

March natural gas futures rose in modest trading Tuesday as short-term traders anticipated some additional short-covering ahead of Thursday’s inventory report and longer-term analysts suggest that selling has run its course and recommend purchases of the April contact on dips. At the closing bell March natural gas was up 5.1 cents to $3.976 and April had gained 3.9 cents to $4.030. March crude oil fell 49 cents to $84.32/bbl.