Natural-gas prices struggle to hold gains as U.S. natural-gas supply falls as expected

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported Thursday that domestic supplies of natural gas fell by 86 billion cubic feet for the week ended March 16. Analysts surveyed by S&P Global Platts had forecast a decrease of 87 billion, while the five-year average withdrawal is 53 billion. Total stocks now stand at 1.446 trillion cubic feet, down 667 billion cubic feet from a year ago, and 329 billion below the five-year average, the government said. April natural gas NGJ18, -0.45% was up less than a penny, or 0.3%, at $2.645 per million British thermal units, down slightly from $2.659 before the data.

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