Markets

The Northeast United States and its gas-hungry population centers can expect more 90-degree days this summer than in 2014, while the drought that has plagued California for four years may expand its footprint, according to forecasters at AccuWeather.com.

Most physical traders on Thursday made a point of getting their deals done prior to the release of weekly natural gas storage data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Overall, the market for Friday gas gained a penny to $2.36.

Physical natural gas for Thursday delivery gained ground in Wednesday's trading with higher quotes in the Gulf, Midwest, Midcontinent, Rockies and California equalling lower readings in New England. The overall market was unchanged at an average of $2.35.

June natural gas is set to open 2 cents higher Wednesday morning at $2.56 as traders hint at a short-covering rally from a deeply oversold market. Overnight oil markets slumped before the release of petroleum inventory data.

The first quarter of her tenure at FERC was a busy one highlighted by a few big issues, according to Commissioner Colette Honorable, who heard “loud and clear” from the natural gas industry on the most controversial of those issues — a proposal to move the 9 a.m. Central Clock Time (CCT) start of the gas day to 4 a.m. CCT.

With slumping oil and stagnant natural gas prices, the market for merger and acquisition (M&A) activity among exploration and production companies would appear to be a good bet. However, many of the biggest companies with the deepest pockets are remaining on the sidelines.

Skyrocketing wintertime Northeast gas prices are a pipeline problem and not due to a paucity of regional natural gas supply, a lawmaker from Maine told U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, speculating on potential additional supplies if the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline (M&NE) is reversed to tap the Marcellus.

Physical natural gas for Thursday delivery gained ground in Wednesday’s trading with higher quotes in the Gulf, Midwest, Midcontinent, Rockies and California equalling lower readings in New England. The overall market was unchanged at an average of $2.35.

June natural gas is set to open 2 cents higher Wednesday morning at $2.56 as traders hint at a short-covering rally from a deeply oversold market. Overnight oil markets slumped before the release of petroleum inventory data.