Exited

Adding its name to the growing list of companies that have exited the North American energy marketing and trading function, German super-utility RWE AG said Tuesday that RWE Trading Americas — a subsidiary of RWE Trading GmbH — will exit the market before the end of the year.

Tractebel North America Inc., a mid-sized energy marketing company, has exited the speculative trading business, following the lead of nearly all the major players once in the marketplace. Three employees were laid off in Tractebel’s Houston office and the rest of the 30-member trading group was offered other positions in the company, according to a spokesperson.

Tractebel North America Inc., a mid-sized energy marketing company, has exited the speculative trading business, following the lead of nearly all the major players once in the marketplace. Three employees were laid off in Tractebel’s Houston office and the rest of the 30-member trading group was offered other positions in the company, according to a spokesperson.

Aquila Inc. said last Thursday it has exited its investment in the Lodi Gas Storage Project in northern California as part of its continuing effort to pull out of non-core businesses and return to its regulated utility roots.

Aquila Inc. said Thursday it has exited its investment in the Lodi Gas Storage Project in northern California as part of its continuing effort to pull out of non-core businesses and return to its regulated utility roots.

Light short-covering buoyed the futures market at the openFriday, as traders exited positions ahead of the holiday weekend.However, sellers above the $1.80 level were waiting and pushed theprompt month to a lower close. The February contract slipped 1.3cents lower to close at $1.796 in Friday’s abbreviated tradingsession. The New York Mercantile Exchange will be closed Monday inobservance of Martin Luther King Day