Natural gas prices next week: Henry Hub braces for Venezuela shock but warm U.S. forecast still rules
U.S. natural gas futures settled at $3.618/mmBtu Friday, down 6.8 cents, as forecasts showed weaker heating demand. U.S. strikes on Venezuela raised geopolitical risk, but PDVSA oil operations remained normal. Warmer-than-normal temperatures are expected to persist into mid-January, pressuring gas prices. U.S. storage withdrawals and demand both trended below seasonal averages.