Trading chugged along at a modest pace, leaving SPF lumber again susceptible to deteriorating prices.

Slow trading placed more downward price pressure on SPF lumber. Activity increased Tuesday after traders heard reports of additional sales to Asia, but short covering and other buying in wake of the news quieted by Wednesday morning.

The SPF lumber market weakened to a point where discounting became more prevalent. Mills in the East openly discounted while those in the West tended to hold closer to quoted levels established in weeks prior.

Trading in the SPF market slowed, but mill prices remained strong, even rising a few dollars in some instances. Weather again hampered sales.

Sales activity in the western SPF lumber market slowed compared to the spurt in sales occurring at the end of the previous week.

SPF trading was moderate and steady, which led to higher prices for the second consecutive week. Volumes sold were not near those sold the week prior.

SPF producers searched more earnestly for a price floor early and began to draw more interest Thursday morning, after buyers heard of a significant order placed by China.

Slow trading in the SPF lumber market kept mill order files from moving more fully into the first days of February. With availability more plentiful for some items, including 2x4 #2&Btr, in the week of Jan. 21, traders began to wonder who would blink first -- buyers or mills.