10:38AM

Natural-gas prices stay higher after EIA data ( NGJ13 ) by Myra P. Saefong

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Natural-gas futures continued to trade higher Thursday after the Energy Information Administration reported a fall in U.S. inventories that was generally in line with market expectations. Supplies fell 171 billion cubic feet for the week ended Feb. 22, the EIA said. Analysts polled by Platts forecast a decline between 166 billion and 170 billion cubic feet. Total stocks now stand at 2.229 trillion cubic feet, down 307 billion cubic feet from the year-ago level and 308 billion cubic feet above the five-year average, the government said. April natural gas (ngj13) was at $3.47 per million British thermal units, up 3 cents, or 0.9%. It was trading at $3.45 shortly before the data