FX.co ★ US Natural Gas Slides to 10-Week Low

U.S. natural gas futures have declined by over 3%, settling at approximately $3.48 per million British thermal units—marking their lowest point since late October. This drop is primarily attributed to weather forecasts predicting warmer temperatures. The warmer climate is expected to prevail across the eastern two-thirds of the country between January 7 and 11, with this trend spreading into the north-central regions from January 12 to 16. These conditions are likely to suppress short-term demand for natural gas. Simultaneously, the markets are closely watching the broader implications on the energy sector following the U.S. action against Venezuela and the detainment of President Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela holds close to 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which constitutes over 60% of Latin America's total reserves. Although the immediate impact is more pronounced in the crude oil and refined products sectors, investors remain vigilant for potential escalations that could lead to sanctions or harm critical infrastructure. Such developments might disrupt LNG trade routes or shipping lanes, subsequently influencing natural gas markets.