U.S. natural gas futures rose about 2% to a one-week high on Thursday on forecasts for higher demand over the next two weeks than previously expected. That small price increase came ahead of a government report on Thursday expected to show a normal withdrawal from stockpiles last week, and the upcoming Good Friday holiday. It also came despite forecasts for mild weather through mid April, ample amounts of gas in storage and reduced amounts of gas flowing to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants due to ongoing repairs at Freeport LNG’s export plant in Texas. Analysts forecast U.S. utilities pulled 22 billion cubic ... (full story)