CME lumber ends mixed, May off ahead of expiration

CHICAGO, May 13 (Reuters) - Chicago Mercantile Exchange lumber futures closed mixed on Wednesday with May pressured by slow cash trade ahead of Friday's expiration while deferred months rose on the outlook for an increase in summer mill shutdowns, traders said.

* Although cash prices were quoted higher on Wednesday, much of the strength was attributed to higher mill asking prices that came despite continued slack demand.

* May lumber 2LBK9 closed off $4.70 per thousand board feet at $154.30, July 2LBN9 was up $2.10 at $183.50 and September 2LBU9 up $1.50 at $195.60.

* Random Lengths on Wednesday quoted cash spruce at $164, up $8 from Friday and up $14 from a week ago.

* "Many traders were discouraged by the market's lack of energy in advance of a traditionally busy holiday. Although retailers maintained thin inventories, they limited purchases to highly specified loads, confident that they could readily find replacement stock when needed," Random Lengths said.

* "Many mills were open to small counters, even as they viewed current prices as unacceptable. A few key prices bucked the broader trend. Western S-P-F rose ahead of the May futures contract close," the reporting agency said. (Reporting by Jerry Bieszk)