By Myra P. Saefong
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Natural-gas futures turned lower Thursday after the Energy Information Administration reported a decline in U.S. inventories that was a bit smaller than expected. Supplies fell 172 billion cubic feet for the week ended Jan. 18, the EIA said. Analysts polled by Platts forecast a decline between 173 billion and 177 billion cubic feet. Total stocks now stand at 2.996 trillion cubic feet, down 157 billion cubic feet from the year-ago level and 320 billion cubic feet above the five-year average, the government said. February natural gas was at $3.54 per million British thermal units, down 2 cents, or 0.6%. It was trading higher around $3.58 shortly before the data.
