The February NYMEX natural gas contract expired at $3.63 per MMBtu, and March gas fell below $2.90 as forecasts shifted to less extreme cold. The EIA reported a 99 Bcf storage withdrawal, well below the five-year average of 164 Bcf, but the outlook still turned bearish.
Warmer forecasts and a smaller-than-expected storage draw reduce near-term demand, pushing prices lower. Lower natural gas prices reduce energy costs for feed processing, though storage remains 16% below the five-year average.
After 104 past bearish weather events, Natural Gas moved a median -7.8% over 5 sessions (22% higher; middle half -14.8% to -0.8%), and -3.3% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.
Forecasts shifted to less extreme cold and March gas fell below $2.90, while a storage withdrawal well below the five-year average added to the bearish sentiment during the decline.