Natural gas futures were down early Thursday as the market prepared to consider updated domestic inventory data against a backdrop of ongoing global energy supply fears. After going as high as $4.936 in after hours trading, the April Nymex contract was off 3.8 cents to $4.724/MMBtu at around 8:45 a.m. ET.

NGI Morning Natural Gas Price & Markets Coverage

Surveys for the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) report, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET, point to widespread expectations for a triple-digit withdrawal, reflecting solid late-winter demand for the week ended Feb. 25.

A Reuters poll found estimates ranging from pulls of 91 Bcf to 153 Bcf, with a median estimate of 141 Bcf. A Bloomberg poll produced a slightly narrower range and landed at a median of 140 Bcf. The Wall Street Journal survey found an average expectation...