-- Natural gas traded higher early Monday as long-term forecasts see cooler weather coming for most states, adding some unseasonal heating demand.
Gas for May delivery was last seen up $0.04 to US$2.72 per million British thermal units.
The rise comes as long-term forecasts from the National Weather Service see most states between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River with cooler than seasonal temperatures over its six to 10 day outlook while near-term forecasts are also cool, adding some heating demand for the fuel.
"The weather data trended colder across the Midwest and Northeast going back to last week. This made the pattern not as bearish as national demand increases to seasonal April 25-May 2 and likely aided gains late last week and to open the new trading week," NatGasWeather noted.