Natural-gas futures soared Thursday after weekly inventory data showed that stockpiles fell more than expected last week. Natural-gas inventories shrank by 117 billion cubic feet in the week ended Jan. 1, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Thursday. Analysts and traders surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected the agency to report a 100-bcf withdrawal. Futures for February delivery settled up 11.5 cents, or 5.1%, to $2.382 a million British thermal unit on the New York Mercantile Exchange, on track for the highest settlement since November. Inventories remain 15% above five-year average levels for this time of year. Moderate weather-driven demand and robust production has pushed the natural-gas market into oversupply in recent months. Stockpiles usually start drawing in early winter as more consumers use natural gas for indoor heating, but mild temperatures this winter meant that inventories kept growing until late November. However, frigid temperatures appeared […]