Mildly

Near-flat pricing continued to set the pace for the cash market for the third day in a row Friday. The previous day’s 18.4-cent increase by July futures following a mildly bullish storage build report, along with warm to hot weather forecasts in several areas, failed to have much supportive effect on prices.

Many near-flat numbers were involved in a market that was mildly higher in much of the East but decidedly softer in the West Wednesday. Hot weather will remain through Thursday in much of the southern half of the U.S., but cool to mild temperatures will continue to prevail in much of North America.

A few points had held out with flat to mildly higher prices a day earlier, but all of the cash market was united in falling numbers Thursday as moderate spring weather and weak futures ganged up to depress physical prices.

A few points had held out with flat to mildly higher prices a day earlier, but all of the cash market was united in falling numbers Thursday as moderate spring weather and weak futures ganged up to depress physical prices.

Prices were mildly softer for the most part Friday, but rising heat levels in the South and the resultant increase in competition for Gulf Coast supplies had some points trading flat to a little more than 15 cents higher. However, only three of the gains exceeded a couple of pennies.

The cash market was mixed for the second trading day in a row Monday, but this time bulls were in the majority. Flat to mildly lower numbers, with losses of up to nearly a dime, were concentrated mostly in the Gulf Coast and Northeast. But forecasts of searing heat across the Southwest and spreading into California, along with diminished but still warm and muggy weather in the South, were sufficient to raise prices at a majority of points.

Prices were flat to mildly softer at virtually all points Thursday, but market weakness was expected to grow substantially Friday following a decidedly bearish storage report and large declines in energy futures.

With a few flat to mildly softer points tucked into every market area, prices found enough heating load Wednesday for an overall advance. Gains ranged from 2 or 3 pennies to as much as a quarter.

With a few flat to mildly softer points tucked into every market area, prices found enough heating load Wednesday for an overall advance. Gains ranged from 2 or 3 pennies to as much as a quarter.