Sustained sweltering heat over Texas helped stir bullish sentiment, promoting broad-based gains for regional natural gas forwards during the June 15-21 trading period, NGI’s Forward Look data show.

As the Lone Star State heat wave firmed up the cooling demand outlook just in time for the official start of summer, July fixed prices at benchmark Henry Hub rallied 25.8 cents week/week to reach $2.600/MMBtu.

Houston Ship Channel similarly picked up 25.5 cents to exit the period at $2.523 for July prices. In West Texas, El Paso Permian July fixed prices surged 37.2 cents to $2.183.

“A strong ridge remains in place over Texas, promoting persistent heat with highs reaching low to mid 100s in Dallas and San Antonio and near 100 degrees throughout in Houston,” Maxar’s Weather...