Attention

The energy industry’s revived interest in the dormant AlaskaNatural Gas Transportation System (ANGTS) has caught the attentionof FERC Chairman James Hoecker.

Frenetic activity continued in the natural gas pit yesterday ina see-saw battle that produced two rallies, two dips and oneenormous 11.5-cent trading range. By the time the dust had settledand the orders were processed, the battle-weary August contractmanaged a 3.2-cent advance to settle at $2.574 on its penultimatetrading day.

Although Avista Corp. has yet to garner much attention on WallStreet, the company is expecting its share price will rise as itsstrategy unfolds. Corporate strategy views technology and billconsolidation services as the gateway to a significant nationwidemarketing presence.

Apache Corp. dramatically grew its asset base and shiftedattention away from its poor first quarter financial performancelast week by buying 22 fields in the Outer Continental Shelf of theGulf of Mexico (GOM) from Shell for $715 million and one millioncommon shares of stock. The acquisition will go into effectretroactive to March.

It’s funny how an extra hundred million dollars will get your attention. That’s what the board of directors of Southwest Gas Corp. have to contend with in the form of an unsolicited proposal from Southern Union Co., after they already had signed off on an offer from ONEOK Inc.

For the second week in a row, cooler temperatures and spikingcash prices piqued the attention of buyers Monday, prompting shortcovering amid some fresh buying. That enabled the prompt Januarycontract to gap higher on the open, and quickly move to majorresistance at $2.00. But the buying dried up and January was tradedmostly sideways before ticking down at the final bell. Januaryfinished at $1.952, up 9.4 cents for the day.

The gas market showed last week it was fed up with low crude oilprices getting all the attention. In a market swing that wasnothing short of unbelievable, gas prices collapsed to nearhistoric lows for a week in December. Spot prices at the Henry Hubplummeted to $1.01/MMBtu on Friday and averaged $1.32 for the week,down 64 cents from the week prior. Spot prices at a number of otherlocations in Louisiana and Texas fell below $1 on Friday.

The gas market showed last week it was fed up with low crude oilprices getting all the attention. In a market swing that wasnothing short of unbelievable, gas prices collapsed to nearhistoric lows for a week in December. Spot prices at the Henry Hubplummeted to $1.01/MMBtu on Friday and averaged $1.32 for the week,down 64 cents from the week prior. Spot prices at a number of otherlocations in Louisiana and Texas fell below $1 on Friday.

A strong cash market and a shift in attention from the bearishsupply situation to the bullish demand forecasts collaboratedThursday to send futures prices spiraling higher. That enabled theDecember contract to move through a couple of key chart levels enroute to its settlement of $2.553. Estimated volume, which has beennotably less than usual this week, registered a respectable 88,159.