Gains

The gains made earlier this week were not sustained yesterday asmost points on GPI’s Daily survey lost between a couple cents and adime. Spot points in the Midcontinent, California and the Rockieswere the exception, however, as most registered flat to decreasesof just a penny or two; some even managed small increases.

Prices achieved broad-based small gains Tuesday largely based onan initially firm screen and lingering cool weather in the West,but were retreating in the late going as futures eventually movedlower.

Calgary-based AEC Oil & Gas secured an anchor land positionin the gas exploration fairway of the Mackenzie Delta in theNorthwest Territories. The lands, which were acquired through aproperty swap with Husky Oil, give the partnership of AEC West Ltd.and Alberta Energy Company Ltd. rights to more than 400,000 netacres.

Relieving technically overbought conditions and following thelead of weaker mid-morning cash prices, traders ushered natural gasfutures off its morning highs yesterday to notch its first down daysince Wednesday, Feb. 23. The April contract lost 3.2 cents at$2.783.

Calgary-based AEC Oil & Gas secured an anchor land positionin the gas exploration fairway of the Mackenzie Delta in theNorthwest Territories. The acquired lands give the partnership ofAEC West Ltd. and Alberta Energy Company Ltd. rights to more than400,000 net acres.

Feeding off late gains achieved Thursday, natural gas futuresrumbled higher Friday as traders continued to look past theoverwhelmingly bearish short- and medium-term weather outlook tofocus instead on the potential for higher prices this summer. Withthat upward bias, the March contract advanced 5.4 cents to settleat $2.603, just a fraction of a cent below the $2.61 Februarysettle, but nearly a dollar above the $1.666 March 1999 closingprice.

Fueled by a supportive storage report, natural gas futures addedto gains achieved in Wednesday evening’s Access trading session ina sharp opening bell rally yesterday. Taking out resistance atprior highs of $2.62 and $2.66, the March contract advanced 10.3cents to finish at $2.667

Fueled by a larger-than-expected storage withdrawal and promptedby gains in Wednesday night’s Access session, natural gas futuresclimbed higher yesterday as traders lifted prices in a briskafternoon buying surge. The March contract finished up 5.2 cents at$2.592, but the real story was the outer months, which gained 6cents or more on moderate position rolling.

After managing minor gains Tuesday and Wednesday, February gasfutures were unable to hold ground and slipped into the holidayweekend at $2.329, down 6.5 cents for the day and nearly back wherethey started the week. Both fundamental and technical indicatorsshowed continued downward momentum on Thursday.