Buyers paid a bit more attention to their immediate framing lumber needs. However, they could hardly turn away from wild gyrations in the stock market and more unsettling financial news. Most prices finished the week lower, in some cases sharply down. Monday's surge in the stock market was a catalyst for an up-limit move in lumber futures. This sparked buying in Canadian S-P-F and some western species, but any momentum had largely fizzled by late Tuesday.

Panel market

Structural panel demand faded. OSB trading quieted as the week progressed, and most prices flattened after registering modest early week gains. Most mills were booked into the week of October 27. A slowdown in consumption prompted some Southern Pine plywood mills on the westside to accept large price cuts to move volumes of sheathing. In western Fir plywood, an emotionally and financially draining business climate left dealers and distributors with no inclination to build inventories. Mills garnered scattered small orders in
mixed trucks, usually on mild counters.