Charter Communications' operating company bank debt ticked higher last week as traders quoted the paper in the 98-991/4 context on rumors that the company could be planning to refinance. Traders stressed that the refinancing plans were purely speculative, but said the paper was about a point higher. The buzz suggested that the company would look to rework all of its outstanding bank debt, which includes several different facilities. Charter had about $7.6 billion of long-term credit facility debt as of Sept. 30. A company spokesman declined comment on the speculation.