Natural-gas Prices Down As U.S. Supply Falls Less Than Expected

Natural-gas futures on Thursday fell further after the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that supplies of natural gas declined by 219 billion cubic feet for the week ended Feb. 20. Analysts surveyed by Platts forecast a decline of between 239 billion cubic feet and 243 billion cubic feet. Total stocks now stand at 1.938 trillion cubic feet, up 576 billion cubic feet from a year ago and 30 billion cubic feet below the five-year average, the government said. April natural gas was at $2.727 per million British thermal units, down 13.6 cents, or 4.8%. It was trading around $2.83 before the data.