Book excerpt: Natural Gas Trading in North America presents the core knowledge required to work on a natural gas trading desk in North America. The material surveyed spans historical market context, fundamental drivers and the mechanics and instruments used to trade and risk manage a natural gas portfolio. This book is intended to be accessible to a broad array of readers, from those trading markets directly, to origination, structuring and control groups, as well as those working in investment banking and project development for whom an understanding of how the markets are traded is essential in their daily activities.