U.S. natural gas futures rose to $2.86 per MMBtu, rebounding from a more than six-month low, tracking broader gains across energy markets as hopes for a swift resolution to the Middle East war faded. President Donald Trump said the US is “nearing completion” on achieving strategic objectives in Iran but provided little clarity on the pathway to end hostilities.
He also warned of severe military action against Iran over the next two to three weeks. However, price gains were tempered by the onset of the spring shoulder season, when heating demand typically declines, and storage levels increase. Weather forecasts point to above-average temperatures across the eastern US into early April and again around mid-April, reducing gas consumption. Markets now expect a faster rise in inventories, widening from a small surplus in mid-March to a larger surplus by mid-April.
