Patrick

Prompted by weaker physical prices and forecasts calling forwarming temperatures this week, traders in the natural gas pit atNymex had little choice but to push futures lower Friday as theycasually transferred long positions from the prompt contract to theback months. Slipping 6.6 cents on the day to finish at $2.785, theApril contract now sits just above trendline support on the dailychart, sources said.

Patrick J. Maher, chairman of Washington Gas Light, will retireeffective March 1. He will begin his leave pending retirement onDec. 1. Maher joined the company in 1974 as vice president andchief financial officer, and subsequently held the positions ofexecutive vice president of finance and administration, president,and chief executive officer. He has been a member of the board ofdirectors since 1988 and became chairman in 1992.

Patrick J. Maher, chairman of Washington Gas Light, will retireeffective March 1. He will begin his leave pending retirement onDec. 1. Maher joined the company in 1974 as vice president andchief financial officer, and subsequently held the positions ofexecutive vice president of finance and administration, president,and chief executive officer. He has been a member of the board ofdirectors since 1988 and became chairman in 1992.