Swirled

Traders were prepared for anything Tuesday as the debate swirled on whether there would be enough momentum left from Monday’s natural gas futures price jump to fuel another round of short-covering. The answer, at least for now, is “no,” as the July contract dropped 12.7 cents to settle at $8.064.

Reports swirled around Washington last week that the White Houseplans to tap Bill Richardson, U.S. Ambassador to the UnitedNations, as the next secretary of the Department of Energy, butthere was no official confirmation. If true, this would mark thesecond time Deputy Energy Secretary Elizabeth Moler, who mostconcede is best qualified for the job, has been edged out of thetop energy post.