Squeezed

Despite much-above- normal temperatures across much of the U.S.,natural gas squeezed out small gains at the New York MercantileExchange yesterday in a mostly dull trading session. Throughoutmost of the day the March contract looked as if it would closeunchanged, but a late rally put a positive spin on the day’sevents, nudging the prompt month 2 cents higher to finish at$1.838. Estimated volume, registering a measly 37,697 contracts,confirmed the sluggish nature of the market.