–EIA data show inventories rose 87 bcf vs forecast of 79 bcf –As expected, stock build tops year-earlier, five-year average for week –Weather outlooks battle rising supply in setting market course (Adds price chart.) By David Bird NEW YORK–Natural-gas-futures prices settled modestly higher Thursday as hopes for stronger demand from a near-term Midwest cold snap overshadowed a bigger-than-expected rise in inventories. The Energy Information Administration said gas inventories rose by 87 billion cubic feet in the week ended Oct. 18, compared with a rise of 79 bcf in a Wall Street Journal survey of 12 analysts. The rise exceeded the highest estimate, for an increase of 84 bcf. It also topped the increase of 64 bcf in the same week last year and the five-year average rise of 67 bcf for the week. “That’s a huge miss” said Matt Smith, analyst at Schneider Electric. The data accelerated earlier weakness, […]