Hints

Except for still-tumbling prices in the Northeast and in theRockies, which ironically were among the chillier regionsWednesday, most of the cash market pulled out of the tailspin thathad characterized Tuesday’s start of November swing trading. Otherareas tended to range from mildly lower to mildly higher.

Most of the East was flat to slightly higher Tuesday, although afew points registered gains of more than a nickel. But westernprices softened by as much as a dime despite a continuation ofpower shortages in California.

Except for flat to softer numbers for California, intra-Albertaand some Rockies points, prices advanced between about a nickel and15 cents Tuesday. But traders who attributed Tuesday’s increases toMonday’s screen rise, were assessing a similar carryover fromdeclining futures Tuesday, which they credited with bringing onlate Tuesday retreats in many markets and predictions of moderatesoftness in today’s cash trading.

Cash prices rode the continuing tropical storm news and aninitially higher screen to further gains Wednesday, but there weresigns that the big run-up had just about run its course. Mostincreases in the East were between about a nickel and a dime. Whilethat range also held true in much of the West, northern Californiaonce again tended to outpace the general market with dime-or-moreupticks at Malin and the PG&E citygate.