Natural gas futures on the Nymex closed up 2.8% at $3.233/mmBtu, buoyed by a weekly inventory report that fell at the bottom of analyst projections. The latest injection into storage facilities trailed the previous week’s 108 Bcf build, leaving the existing surplus stagnant.

Andy Huenefeld of Pinebrook Energy Advisors attributed the shift to a surge in air-conditioning usage across major population hubs. This seasonal demand spike served as the primary catalyst for an implied tightening of 5 Bcf per day. Huenefeld expects storage builds to continue trending downward as temperatures climb toward the annual summer peak, sustaining upward pressure on prices.