0951 ET - U.S. natural gas futures are lower with the market awaiting the EIA's weekly inventory report due at 10:30 a.m. ET. The data is expected to show a larger-than-usual build extending the storage surplus over the five-year average. Although weather forecasts have turned a bit warmer, the surplus will keep pressure on prices, Dennis Kissler of BOK Financial says in a note. Some near-term positives remain, "with LNG demand at just over 18 Bcf a day and bargain hunting buyers believing upside value probabilities outweigh the downside at these price levels," he adds. Nymex natural gas is off 1% at $2.695/mmBtu.