Platts to eliminate pluses/minuses in tables

Platts plans to end its practice of putting pluses and minuses next to assessments in its tables, showing the direction the assessment has moved from the prior day, effective with all publications and services on July 1, 2009.

Numerous Platts subscribers have complained that the pluses and minuses, are confusing at times, particularly in assessments of differentials (as opposed to outright prices).

Additionally, the implementation of the pluses and minuses has not been consistent across all Platts' services. Platts editors have determined that it would be easier to eliminate the pluses and minuses in those services where they are still carried rather than adding them to services where they are not.

The main services to be affected by this move are Platts Global Alert, Platts Oilgram Price Report, Platts US Marketscan and Platts Asia-Pacific/Arab Gulf Marketscan.

For questions or comments, please contact support@platts.com, John Kingston at john_kingston@platts.com or Jeff Mower at jeff_mower@platts.com.