1528 ET - U.S. natural gas futures settle higher as weekend weather forecasts added heat to the near-term outlook, favoring power-sector demand. Temperatures are still expected to fall in the second half of September, "setting up a broader shoulder-season decline in consumption," Gelber & Associates says in a note. But meanwhile reduced Canadian imports and LNG demand near 20 Bcf/d tighten the balance enough to lift October futures despite solid production, the firm adds. Nymex natural gas settles up 2.3% at $2.896/mmBtu.