“(Lumber Futures) have gained 12 percent since the end of January, the most among 35 raw materials tracked by the Rogers International Commodity Index.  West Fraser said exports to China ‘picked up substantially’ in the first quarter from the fourth quarter.  Shipments climbed to a record in 2011,  government data show.  US starts rose 1.5 percent last month from December to a 699,000 annual rate, the most for a January since 2008 and a sign that residential real estate is stabilizing..”

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