Hearts

While all sides say details like rates and schedules remain negotiable, it appears industry rapidly lost the battle to enlist the hearts and minds of Albertans for its war against an overhaul of provincial royalties. Within two weeks of a stunning report advocating $2 billion in annual royalty increases by a provincially appointed review panel, polls showed opinion swung overwhelmingly in favor of change — including in the Calgary capital of Canada’s natural gas industry.

Prices were generally a bit higher Wednesday as traders with heavy hearts struggled to resume business as close as possible to normal. There was a decided lack of consistency as production-area numbers ranged from mildly softer to about a dime higher, and market-area deliveries were similarly varied.