Hedge Funds Build Record Short in U.S. Natural Gas as Warmth Looms
Published . Updated .
Hedge funds boosted short-only wagers to a record 625,150 contracts, with net shorts at 223,591, as warmer forecasts push Dec futures near $2.90/MMBtu.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- UNG United States Natural Gas Fund-11.6% 30d
United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story.
- XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR+12.1% 30d
Energy Select Sector SPDR: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story.
- LNG Cheniere Energy+20.1% 30d
Cheniere Energy (natural gas distribution): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story.
- EQT Eqt+4.1% 30d
Eqt (crude petroleum and natural gas): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story.
- KMI Kinder Morgan+4.2% 7d
Kinder Morgan (natural gas transmission): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story.
- WMB The Williams Companies
The Williams Companies (natural gas transmission): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNGNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XLE | -0.51% | -2.20% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| LNGNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EQTNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| KMINo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| WMBNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
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Hedge Funds Build Record Short in U.S. Natural Gas as Warmth Looms Briefs Finance
Source: Briefs Finance
Price since this story was published: United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG)
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | three days earlier | -2.20% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | five days earlier | -0.51% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Eqt (EQT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 27 Aug 2026. That is 65 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Eqt (EQT), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 17 Aug 2026. That is 75 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Eqt (EQT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 14 Aug 2026. That is 78 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Alan Armstrong sold Williams Companies (WMB) (jointly held), worth $250,001 - $500,000 on 8 Sep 2026. That is 53 days before publication. Filed 22 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Alan Armstrong bought Williams Companies (WMB) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 20 Aug 2026. That is 72 days before publication. Filed 17 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Alan Armstrong bought Williams Companies (WMB) (jointly held), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 19 Aug 2026. That is 73 days before publication. Filed 17 Sep 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who collects and who pays in energy
Companies mentioned with this story
- UNG United States Natural Gas Fund
For “Hedge Funds Build Record Short in U.S. Natural Gas as Warmth Looms,” United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story
- XLE Select Sector Spdr Tr
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 31 Oct 2026 story “Hedge Funds Build Record Short in U.S. Natural Gas as Warmth Looms.” Reason on file: Energy Select Sector SPDR: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story
- LNG Cheniere Energy
For “Hedge Funds Build Record Short in U.S. Natural Gas as Warmth Looms,” Cheniere Energy (LNG) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Cheniere Energy (natural gas distribution): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story
- EQT Eqt
Eqt (EQT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 31 Oct 2026 story “Hedge Funds Build Record Short in U.S. Natural Gas as Warmth Looms.” Reason on file: Eqt (crude petroleum and natural gas): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story
- KMI Kinder Morgan
In “Hedge Funds Build Record Short in U.S. Natural Gas as Warmth Looms,” Kinder Morgan (KMI) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Kinder Morgan (natural gas transmission): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story
- WMB Williams Companies
In “Hedge Funds Build Record Short in U.S. Natural Gas as Warmth Looms,” Williams Companies (WMB) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: The Williams Companies (natural gas transmission): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story
How energy news reaches United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG)
United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) is the company in “Hedge Funds Build Record Short in U.S. Natural Gas as Warmth Looms,” the 31 Oct 2026 Energy story.
The link for United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) is this: United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story
Also listed, Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE): Energy Select Sector SPDR: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “natural gas” (natural gas) in this story
Price levels for United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG)
LNG traded between 267.94 and 330.66 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 330.35. UNG traded between 8.95 and 11.43 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 9.08. XLE traded between 62.06 and 70.15 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 70.00.
What the saved facts support for United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG)
46 out of 100
“Hedge Funds Build Record Short in U.S. Natural Gas as Warmth Looms” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 6 linked companies.