Natural-gas futures ended higher Tuesday as weather forecasts for colder-than-normal temperatures spurred hopes that the fuel would be needed to heat homes in much of the eastern U.S. through the end of the month. Natural gas for May delivery rose as much as 1.5% in morning trade but ended the day only 0.7 cent, or 0.2%, higher at $4.567 a million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Temperatures could be in the below-normal range for the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard through April 25 and remain cool in the Northeast almost until the end of the month, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Private forecast services had a more moderate view in the extended forecast, despite a cold blast over the Midwest and even parts of the South during the next few days that could bring near-freezing temperatures as far south as Texas. While the […]