FX.co ★ US Natural Gas Prices Slip Over 1%

US natural gas futures slipped more than 1% to around $3 per MMBtu on Wednesday, ending a three-day advance as traders weighed a new US proposal aimed at protecting tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump announced that the US International Development Finance Corporation would offer insurance for vessels to help sustain energy and trade flows, with naval escorts available if needed.

The move follows mounting disruptions after the shutdown of a key shipping lane that accounts for roughly 20% of global LNG trade and serves as a critical route for Qatari exports. Nonetheless, uncertainty remains elevated as regional hostilities entered a fifth day.

At the same time, forecasts indicate the Midwest and Northeast will see their warmest conditions since October later this week, with temperatures running as much as 25 degrees above seasonal norms. The unseasonable warmth is expected to curb near-term heating demand for natural gas and may add further downward pressure on prices.