Natural-gas prices firmed Thursday as traders bet that continued colder-than-average weather next week would prompt substantial demand for natural-gas-powered heating in homes and offices. Natural gas for February delivery settled up 9.1 cents at $4.321 a million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Thursday’s 2.2% price rise was a reversal from two days of losses earlier in the week. Market participants cashed in their profits in the final days of 2013 as natural gas posted its largest annual gain in eight years. Now, traders are refocusing on indications that the winter rally has further to run, said Gene McGillian, analyst and broker for Tradition Energy […]