Natgas companies gain on hot weather forecasts

Shares of U.S. natural gas companies gain, tracking rise in natgas futures NGA/

U.S. natgas futures NGc1 up 3.4% at $3.16 per million British thermal unit

The contract hit its lowest level since late April in the previous session

Natural gas prices rose as hot weather forecasts in August are expected to boost air-conditioning demand, prompting more gas use by power generators, while technical buying ahead of the August contract expiration added further support

Shares of natgas companies: EQT Corp EQT.N up 2.5%, Cheniere Energy LNG.N rises 2.6%, Energy Transfer ET.N up 1.2% and Williams Companies WMB.N rises 2.1%

NextDecade NEXT.O up marginally and Sempra SRE.N up 1.2%

ETFs — United States Natural Gas Fund UNG.P up 2% and ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas BOIL.P up 4%