UPDATE 1 — US natural gas prices hold steady as higher LNG flows counter rising output

(Adds closing prices) October contract is up about 3% this week after last week's 5% decline Calendar 2027 gas futures hit their lowest average since February 2022 Cove Point maintenance could curb recent export-plant feedgas gains European and Asian benchmarks hover near 44-month highs, far above Henry Hub By Scott DiSavino NEW YORK, Sept 18 (Reuters) — US natural gas futures held steady as bullish forecasts for more demand next week and an increase in daily flows to liquefied natural gas export plants offset a bearish increase in output and ample amounts of gas in storage. Front-month gas futures for October delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 1.1 cents, or 0.4%, to settle at $2.912 per million British thermal units. That put the contract up about 3% for the week after falling about 5% last week. Looking ahead, futures for calendar 2027 fell to an average of $3.31 per mmBtu, their lowest since February 2022. Supply And Demand Financial firm 2 billion cubic feet per day so far in September, up from a monthly record high of 112.2 bcfd in August. Record output and mild spring weather have allowed energy