Analysts and traders expect government data scheduled for release Friday to show a smaller-than-normal drop in natural-gas inventories last week due to unusually warm weather.

The expected decline of 74 billion cubic feet compares with an 87-bcf drop during the same period last year and a five-year average withdrawal of 140 bcf.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration is expected to report that 74 bcf of gas was drawn down for the week ended Dec. 21, according to the average prediction of 12 analysts and traders in a Dow Jones Newswires survey.

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