Markets

Natural gas futures traded higher Thursday morning after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a storage withdrawal that was about in line with what traders were expecting.

JERA Co. Inc. on Thursday announced its first purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Lower 48 states.

Volumes rose but prices fell across the board in the natural gas trade among Canada, the United States and Mexico during the first half of this year, according to the latest scorecard kept by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Most physical points traded about a dime lower Thursday as traders hunkered down and got their deals done before the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its natural gas storage report.

January natural gas is set to open 10 cents higher Wednesday morning at $3.73 as overnight weather models show a stronger Arctic air mass than previously thought. Overnight oil markets fell.

Newly established Mexico energy infrastructure developer Avant Energy S. de R.L. de C.V. has received an initial line-of-equity investment of $150 million from Riverstone Holdings LLC.

Producers and their oil service brethren, looking to nourish their balance sheets after wandering in a price wasteland for two years, are receiving manna for equity offerings from the unlikely source of the oil price debacle in late 2014, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Physical natural gas for Thursday delivery posted strong gains in Wednesday’s trading, boosted by early initial strength in screen prices, flow limitations at eastern population centers and healthy gains in power pricing.

January natural gas is expected to open 3 cents higher Tuesday morning at $3.68 as continued cold revises near-term temperature outlooks. Overnight oil markets slumped.