Extreme Heat Drives Up Natural Gas Futures, Slight Rise in Oil Futures

  • Natural-gas futures surge over 7% due to forecasts for extreme heat across the US
  • Oil futures see slight rise as OPEC keeps demand growth expectations unchanged
  • Above-average temperatures expected to increase cooling demand and reduce storage surpluses
  • Natural Gas prices may lead to increased production volumes

Natural-gas futures surged more than 7% on Tuesday due to weather forecasts predicting above-average heat across much of the US. This increase is expected to boost cooling demand and reduce storage surpluses, potentially leading to increased production volumes. OPEC maintained its oil demand growth expectations in its monthly report, causing a slight rise in oil futures. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) left its forecast for oil-growth demand this year unchanged at 2.2 million barrels a day and the outlook for 2025 also unchanged at 1.8 million barrels a day.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about natural gas and oil futures market movements based on weather forecasts and OPEC’s outlook for supply and demand. It includes quotes from experts in the field and references reliable sources such as the National Weather Service and OPEC reports. The information is relevant to the topic, and while it may not be comprehensive, it presents a clear picture of market trends and expert opinions.
Noise Level: 6
Noise Justification: The article provides some relevant information about natural gas and oil futures market movements but is mostly focused on reporting price changes without much analysis or context. It lacks in-depth discussion of the underlying factors driving these changes and does not explore potential long-term trends or consequences for various stakeholders.
Public Companies: Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
Key People: Victoria Dircksen (commodity analyst at Schneider Electric), Peter Cardillo (chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities)


Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Natural gas and oil futures markets
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses changes in natural gas and oil futures prices due to weather forecasts and OPEC’s outlook on supply and demand, which directly impacts the financial markets of these commodities.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no mention of an extreme event in the article.

Reported publicly: www.marketwatch.com