Natural-gas futures settled below $5 a million British thermal units for the first time in over two years Wednesday, falling more than 4% as the drumbeat of dismal economic data stoked fears of slumping energy demand.
Natural gas for February delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange settled floor trade 21.4 cents lower, or 4.13%, at $4.97 a million British thermal units after reaching a low of $4.94/MMBtu in combined electronic and floor trade earlier in the day. Gas futures last ended below $5/MMBtu on Sept. 27, 2006.
Natural-gas futures prices extended losses from Tuesday on concerns the recession will
