Themselves

Predictably, cash numbers emulated the expiration-day plunge in May futures by taking swan dives themselves Thursday. A widespread dearth of significant weather-related demand only threw more fuel on the price fire sale, and the announcement of a sizeable storage injection heaped on a little extra bearishness in late business.

After trading lower in the morning to stake out a $7.10 low Monday, April natural gas futures began to dig themselves out of the basement in the afternoon. The prompt month settled at $7.318, up 4.5 cents on the day and just 2.2 cents off the session’s high.

With natural gas prices continuing to remain lofty, Americans should prepare themselves for higher utility bills this winter heating season, according to a new survey conducted by NUS Consulting Group. The annual survey found that the average price of natural gas nationwide increased by 4.3% from the period of September 2003 to September 2004.

With natural gas prices continuing to remain lofty, Americans should prepare themselves for higher utility bills this winter heating season, according to a new survey conducted by NUS Consulting Group. The annual survey found that the average price of natural gas nationwide increased by 4.3% from the period of September 2003 to September 2004.

With natural gas prices continuing to remain lofty, Americans should prepare themselves for higher utility bills this winter heating season, according to a new survey conducted by NUS Consulting Group. The annual survey found that the average price of natural gas nationwide increased by 4.3% from the period of September 2003 to September 2004.

With prices remaining high and conventional supply sources drying up, U.S. producers are finding themselves in a tough situation, where a tightening supply crisis might force prices even higher in the next few years

Natural gas futures turned lower Tuesday as traders once again found themselves choking down a double dose of bearish fundamental news. June options — which expired Tuesday — added to the selling pressure and the June contract spent its penultimate trading day in a downward price spiral. It closed at $5.90, down 21.9 cents for the session.

As energy merchants and utilities slowly pick themselves off the mat and get back into the game, CMS Energy Corp. and TXU Corp. last week scored some positive news.

Looking at sharply higher Northeast prices by themselves, an observer would conclude that Thursday was a rampaging bull market for cash gas. But in the overall market context, non-Northeast quotes ranged from a few pennies higher to as much as 10-15 cents down at some western points. Either side of flat was the rule for a majority of the market.