Squander

After a strong opening at $2.28 failed to entice much in the wayof additional buying, natural gas futures gave back most of thegains achieved during Wednesday’s Access trading session anddrifted lower for much of the yesterday’s session. Although itsmomentum was decidedly to the downside Thursday, the Februarycontract did manage to post a higher high at $2.29 and escape witha modest, 0.8-cent advance to finish at $2.252. Estimated volumewas thin with only 45,585 contracts changing hands.