Framing lumber demand languished, even as traders noted a modest pickup in sales in the latter half of last week. An improved tone to the market emanated largely from increased action in Western S-P-F, but was felt in other species Thursday. Recent curtailments and reports of financial troubles at some companies had minimal effect on buyers' approach to the market. But they sent a signal that potential for casualties was real and rising. Even so, traders listened for additional curtailments on the premise that supplies outweighed demand.









Panel market

Structural panel markets gained momentum late in the week. After a slow start, mills opened to counters to sell blocks at discounts to midweek levels. Those sales helped push order files into the week of August 13, and prices stabilized. Southern Pine plywood prices found a bottom early in the week and then bounced. Mills moved accumulations at lower levels, and then ratcheted sheathing prices higher. Western Fir plywood sheathing sales strengthened after a few mills presented discounts of $15-20 beginning Tuesday.