MW: Natural gas falls; supply down less than expected
By Myra P. Saefong
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Natural-gas futures fell Thursday after the Energy Information Administration reported a decline in U.S. inventories that was smaller than expected. Supplies fell 194 billion cubic feet for the week ended Jan. 25, the EIA said. Analysts polled by Platts forecast a decline between 200 billion and 204 billion cubic feet. Total stocks now stand at 2.802 trillion cubic feet, down 202 billion cubic feet from the year-ago level and 304 billion cubic feet above the five-year average, the government said. March natural gas NGH13 -2.55% was at $3.26 per million British thermal units, down 8 cents, or 2.3%. It was trading little changed around $3.33 shortly before the data.
