Trade [[data.name]]

The properties of natural gas have been known about for centuries, but it wasn’t used commercially until the late 18th century when it was first introduced to the UK as a way of lighting streets and homes across the country. By the early 19th century, the US had started lighting the streets of its main cities with natural gas, thanks to the production from its first gas wells. This compared to the British approach of obtaining natural gas from coal.

The world began to use more natural gas once the possibilities for cooking and heating with it became known. The arrival of giant pipelines allowed gas companies to transport it long distances to consumers very easily. Natural gas is now classed as one of the most important and widely-used energy sources on the planet. It’s used all over the world and is regarded as a safe, clean energy source.

As with all natural commodities, a wide range of factors affects the natural gas price. These issues include the fluctuating levels of supply and demand in the market, together with social, economic and political issues that could affect its supply and distribution.
As more people across the world look for gas for a greater variety of uses, the price has largely increased in recent years. 2005 is a good example of a natural gas price spike, as a combination of natural disasters, surging demand and a restructuring of the US gas network led to a record high value of over $21 on the Henry Hub spot price.

2022 has also seen the natural gas price pushed up toward record levels, as supply lines have been under threat for a variety of reasons. Colder than average winters in the biggest markets are another factor that can increase demand and send prices soaring at relatively short notice.

As a keenly-watched commodity, natural gas is traded in a number of ways. CFDs on natural gas futures provide a way of benefiting directly from any changes in the natural gas price. They can be used by traders looking for a greater level of leverage to increase their possible gains. Another option is to invest in shares of gas companies, which means that any changes to the natural gas price should be reflected in the investor’s shares. However, this may result in a low level of diversity.

Funds that cover a range of gas stocks provide a more diversified approach. Since the same companies often produce or supply natural gas and oil, some of these funds are based on the value of both of these important commodities.