US natural gas stocks increased nearly 20 Bcf less than the five-year average due to year-to-date high gas-fired power demand, but the NYMEX Henry Hub balance-of-summer strip remained relatively static despite even smaller builds likely in the weeks ahead. Storage inventories rose 45 Bcf to 3.178 Tcf for the week ended July 10, the US Energy Information Administration reported July 16. The injection was below an S&P Global Platts’ survey of analysts consensus that called for a 50 Bcf build. Wider responses to the survey ranged from injections of 42 Bcf to 65 Bcf. The build was also less than the 67 Bcf injection reported during the same week last year and the five-year average injection of 63 Bcf, according to […]