Trading

The cash market continued to eke out small gains Tuesday inquiet activity that was starting to remind some of last month’sgeneral lack of volatility. New averages ranged from flat to abouta nickel higher, with the varying increases scattered throughoutthe producing and market areas.

A tight range and relatively quiet trading returned to thenatural gas futures pit on Monday following last Friday’s failedrally that briefly touched overhead resistance. And althoughyesterday’s highs did not approach the $1.875 notched last week,some traders felt the move was constructive for prices. Theprompt-March contract was limited to a 1.8-cent gain to finish at$1.818 for the day.

After nearly two years of deliberation, the Commodity FuturesTrading Commission conditionally approved a new rule permitting theNew York Mercantile Exchange to hold a three-year pilot duringwhich futures contracts can be exchanged for positions in swaptransactions (EFS transactions). Rule 6.21A is designed to providea closer link between the on-exchange futures market andoff-exchange swaps markets, giving off-exchange participantsgreater ability to manage the risks associated with swap positions.

Adding to gains achieved during the Wednesday evening Accesstrading session, the futures market picked up momentum yesterdayamid moderate short-covering activity. The February contractfinished up 6.5 cents to $1.892 and in doing so not only settled inthe top half of its daily range, but also near the important $1.91resistance level.

After nearly two years of deliberation, the Commodity FuturesTrading Commission last week conditionally approved a new rule,permitting the New York Mercantile Exchange to hold a three-yearpilot during which futures contracts can be exchanged for positionsin swap transactions (EFS transactions).

Choppy trading continued at the New York Mercantile Exchangeyesterday as the futures market was pressured lower early, only tocome roaring back in the afternoon. The February contract finishedup 3.9 cents to $1.809.

Bears roamed the gas trading woods in full force Thursday,sending cash prices down by a dime or much more at nearly allpoints. The biggest declines of about 35-45 cents occurred at thepreviously high-flying Transco Zone 6 and Texas Eastern M-3citygates in the Northeast. Although some Zone 6-New York Citydeals were still being quoted above $3, the average there fell intothe mid $2.80s.

The hemorrhaging of prices that marked the first two days oftrading in the December aftermarket came to a virtual standstillWednesday even as unseasonably warm weather continued in much ofthe nation east of the Rockies. Except for an increase of more thana dime into Northwest at Sumas, all points were either flat or upor down only a few pennies. The reason for the surge at Sumas andwhy it was handily outstripping Rockies prices was that distributorBC Gas in southern British Columbia was drawing more heavily thanusual on discretionary supplies, one source said.

TEPPCO Partners, L.P. has announced the completion of itsacquisition of the oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) pipelinesbusiness of Duke Energy Transport and Trading Company (DETTCO) fromthe parent, Duke Energy.