
June Nymex natural gas (NGM23) on Friday closed up +0.076 (+3.47%).
Jun nat-gas prices Friday jumped to a 1-1/2 week high and closed sharply higher. Above-normal U.S. temperatures have increased demand from electricity providers to power air-conditioning. According to BNEF data, gas demand for power generation is at the highest seasonal levels since at least 2014. Gains in nat-gas accelerated Friday afternoon when Baker Hughes reported that the number of active U.S. nat-gas drilling rigs in the week ended May 12 plunged by -16 to a 13-month low of 141 rigs.