Natural-gas prices inched up Tuesday after forecasts showed a colder-than-expected start for spring and suggested a lingering demand for gas heat. Natural gas for April delivery settled up 5.3 cents, or 1.9%, at $2.786 a million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gains snapped a three-session losing streak and reversed losses from Monday’s session. Snow and cold have traders thinking about lingering heating demand, brokers and analysts said. About half of all U.S. homes use natural gas for heating fuel, making winter weather one of the biggest drivers of demand. “It’s probably just enough to keep this market from really tanking again,” said Frank Clements, co-owner of Meridian Energy Brokers Inc. outside New York. “We’re at a really good price level, maybe right where we should be.” After a steep fall for the better part of seven months, natural-gas prices have stabilized. […]