Natural gas gains, supply down more than expected ( NGK13 ) by Myra P. Saefong

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Natural-gas futures climbed Thursday, after the Energy Information Administration reported a decline in U.S. inventories that was more than expected. Supplies fell 95 billion cubic feet for the week ended March 22, the EIA said. Analysts polled by Platts forecast a decline between 83 billion cubic feet and 87 billion cubic feet. Total stocks now stand at 1.781 trillion cubic feet, down 642 billion cubic feet from the year-ago level and 61 billion cubic feet above the five-year average, the government said. May natural gas (ngk13) was at $4.09 per million British thermal units, up 2 cents, or 0.6%. It was trading at $4.05 shortly before the data.