A new analysis from a globally respected consultancy has dashed hopes of an upturn in liquefied natural gas prices by the time the bulk of Australia's $200 billion wave of new projects begins production later this year. Spot LNG prices in Asia are likely to suffer a fresh bout of weakness just as most of the plants start up, according to Edinburgh-based Wood Mackenzie, which is forecasting prices below the break-even threshold cited by many analysts for the new local projects.