Moderate

Several flat to about a nickel higher points in various regions managed to escape the overall moderate softness that enveloped the market Tuesday. The previous day’s half-penny advance by May futures did nothing to influence cash numbers, so the physical market finally had to acknowledge that advances in the past few days were made with essentially no support from weather fundamentals.

Weather forecasts, while cooling a bit further in the Midwest and beating a temperature retreat in the Northeast, certainly were still too moderate in most cases to explain small price increases at most locations Wednesday. It could only be concluded that the previous day’s relatively paltry 3.1-cent gain by May futures and storage buyers grabbing at what looked like bargain gas — for now — was behind the mild rally.

Weather forecasts, while cooling a bit further in the Midwest and beating a temperature retreat in the Northeast, certainly were still too moderate in most cases to explain small price increases at most locations Wednesday. It could only be concluded that the previous day’s relatively paltry 3.1-cent gain by May futures and storage buyers grabbing at what looked like bargain gas — for now — was behind the mild rally.

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.

Colder weekend trends in sections of the South and Midwest failed to inspire enough heating load to counter the bearish influences of generally moderate weather as winter enters its final week, the prior-decline of 11.9 cents by April futures and the dropoff of industrial demand during a weekend. As a result, prices fell at all but one point Friday.

Colder weekend trends in sections of the South and Midwest failed to inspire enough heating load to counter the bearish influences of generally moderate weather as winter enters its final week, the prior-decline of 11.9 cents by April futures and the dropoff of industrial demand during a weekend. As a result, prices fell at all but one point Friday.

Mixed price movement returned to the market Friday following losses at virtually all points a day earlier, but mostly moderate softness stayed highly dominant.

Mixed price movement returned to the market Friday following losses at virtually all points a day earlier, but mostly moderate softness stayed highly dominant.