Natural gas prices are rebounding slightly Tuesday as traders appear unwilling to keep selling at prices below $2.80 with two months of winter still to go. Natural gas for February delivery is 6.5 cents, or 2.3% higher, at $2.86 a million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices have now bounced five times this month, and each time they have dropped near $2.80/mmBtu. Weather forecasts encouraged Tuesday’s buying, analysts and a broker said. Half of U.S. homes use natural gas heat, and above-normal temperatures throughout December have cut demand, taking down the market at a time it usually peaks. Next week’s forecasts, while they are warmer-than normal, cooled in overnight updates, raising expectations for gas heating demand. With more than two months left for official winter heating season, traders have to be aware that weather can still turn severe and drive a spike […]