MW: Natural gas prices turn higher after reserves data
By Claudia Assis
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Natural-gas futures turned higher Thursday after the government reported a smaller-than-expected increase in natural gas inventories. Natural gas for October delivery added 5 cents, or 1.2%, to $4.02 per million British thermal units. The Energy Information Administration reported an increase of 73 billion cubic feet for the week ended Sept. 17. Analysts polled by Platts expected an increase of 77 to 81 billion cubic feet. The increase compared to a rise of 66 billion cubic in the comparable week of 2009 and a five-year average of 70 billion cubic feet.
