Natural gas prices flipped to gains after government data showed a smaller-than-expected surplus of gas headed into storage last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said natural-gas stockpiles grew by 34 billion cubic feet last week, compared to the 38 bcf expected by forecasters surveyed by The Wall Street Journal. The report is a widely watched measure of supply and demand. A smaller-than-expected addition to storage likely indicates smaller supply or larger demand than expected. Futures for August delivery recently gained 3.5 cents, or 1.3%, to $2.693 a million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gains, however, have been stifled in recent weeks because of bloated stockpiles, and even gains this small would rival the only six other winning sessions since July 5. “We got a little bit of a pop there as you well should have,” said Bob Yawger, director of the futures division at […]