US Natural Gas Holds Decline
US natural gas futures rose to $2.92 per MMBtu on Tuesday but held onto most of the previous session’s decline amid warmer weather forecasts that are set to curb heating demand. On Monday, prices fell 6% to a more than three-week low after updated forecasts indicated that temperatures will remain above seasonal averages across the western two-thirds of the US through April 1. Meanwhile, traders remain attentive to developments in the Middle East after President Trump announced a five-day delay to earlier threatened strikes on Iran’s oil infrastructure and noted that “productive discussions” with Tehran had taken place. Despite elevated tensions, US natural gas prices have remained largely stable since the conflict began on February 28, due to ample inventories and limited short-term exposure to global markets. Latest EIA data show US gas stockpiles at 10.4% above year-ago levels and 2.6% above the five-year average, while LNG export facilities are operating near full capacity.