Natural Gas Supply Supports Price

The EIA reported that U.S. working stocks of natural gas totaled 3.81 trillion cubic feet, about 57 billion cubic feet higher than the five-year average of 3.76 trillion cubic feet. Working gas in storage totaled 3.93 trillion cubic feet for the same period a year ago. Natural gas inventories remain roughly in the middle of the five-year range. The five-year average increase for the period is 68 billion cubic feet.

A continuing spell of warmer-than-normal temperatures has been forecast for most of the East and Gulf Coasts, Midwest and parts of the Southwest, including Texas.

Here is how stocks of the largest U.S. natural gas producers reacted to this report:

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM), the country’s largest producer of natural gas, was down fractionally at $92.53, in a 52-week range of $84.70 to $95.49.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) was down 2.9%, at $25.48 in a 52-week range of $16.23 to $29.06. Chesapeake reported earnings on Wednesday.

EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE: EOG) was down 3.6% to $170.43. The 52-week range is $112.05 to $188.30. EOG reported earnings Thursday morning.

The U.S. Natural Gas Fund (NYSEMKT: UNG) was up 2%, at $17.69 in a 52-week range of $16.59 to $24.09. The Market Vectors Oil Services ETF (NYSEMKT: OIH) was down 1.2%, at $49.44 in 52-week range of $36.24 to $50.61. The first fund tracks spot prices; the second includes major drillers and services companies.