
Aug Nymex natural gas (NGQ23) on Thursday closed +0.154 (+5.92%).
Nat-gas prices Thursday rallied to a 2-week high and closed sharply higher. A smaller-than-expected increase in weekly nat-gas stockpiles sparked a rally in nat-gas futures Thursday after EIA nat-gas inventories rose +41 bcf, below expectations of +45 bcf. Also, record-high temperatures in the western and southwestern U.S. are ramping up nat-gas demand from electricity providers to power increased air-conditioning usage.