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Daily Natural Gas Market Update 4-20-23

By: Heather Wine, Senior Risk Manager - Energy

Daily Natural Gas Market Update
 
Heather Wine
Senior Risk Manager | (312) 373-8250
StoneX Financial Inc. - FCM Division
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fundamentals & weather
After gaining 4% on Tuesday, spot month gas prices settled 6% lower Wednesday.  Losses were centered around overall expectations for lighter heating demand over the coming 2 weeks.  Cooler than normal temps over the Great Lakes and NE will be offset by warmer conditions across the West and South.   May futures settled 14.4 cents lower at $2.222.  

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Prices have traded mixed this morning with strong LNG exports and forecasts for temps to fall further this weekend providing support while bearish storage expectations are adding pressure.  Cooler temps on the horizon are expected to prompt a turnaround in heating demand across the Midwest which has been trailing the 5 yr avg for most of April.  Regional demand is likely to remain elevated as forecasts call for cooler conditions to persist across the Midwest thru early May. 

 

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Today’s storage report is expected to show a build of 69 BCF for the week ended Apr 14.  This compares to last year’s build of 47 BCF and the 5 yr avg build of 41 BCF.  If correct, stocks would rise to 1.924 TCF.  Early estimates for next week’s report have been tempered slightly due to lingering cooler conditions.  Platts is calling for a build of 66 BCF for the week ending Apr 20 which, once again, falls below historical comparisons.  
 
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LNG feedgas fell to 13.6 BCF/day yesterday but is back up this morning at 14.2 BCF/day.  We are also seeing a drop in output this morning to below 100 BCF/day at 99.5 BCF.  

 

technical analysis
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The May 23 natural gas contract lost .144 (6.1%) on Wednesday settling at 2.222 ending a three day rally uptrend.

Prices have rebounded today after finding good buying interest at 10 day moving average support.

The 40 day moving average at 2.340 basis the May contract is primary resistance today.  

A firm breakout above the 40 day average should indicate a post-winter low is in place.

10 day moving average support is at 2.170 today (2.172 current overnight low) with longer term weekly low support at 1.944.

Moving Average Alignment – Bearish
Long Term Trend Following Index – Bullish
Short Term Trend Following Index – Bullish
Relative Strength Index – 49.82

seasonal prices
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forward curve pricing
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