Energy stocks fared fairly well yesterday — i.e. losses were moderate — during the first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange following the terrorist attacks last Tuesday that left a gaping hole in New York City’s financial district. There were only a few companies that escaped red ink, but the across-the-board losses for the most part stayed in the moderate range.

Utility stocks — specifically, California-based Edison International, PG&E Corp. and AES Corp. — seemed to have taken the biggest hits. The fall in Edison stock was mostly due to the fact that the California Legislature had adjourned for the year last Friday before approving a bailout plan for subsidiary Southern California Edison (the governor promptly said he would call the legislature back into session in October). The drop in Arlington, VA-based AES stock was tied to the company operating two power plants in Pakistan, next door to Afghanistan which is believed to be harboring the terrorists and under threat of U.S. attack. One of the few power companies posting a gain was Southern Co., which finished out the day with a gain of 0.93% to close at $23.95.

Edison stock fell 10.27% to close at $12.58 yesterday, and was closely followed by PG&E, which dropped 7.53% to finish at $15.35. AES ended the day down by 5.17% to $27.50. Compared to the others Duke Energy’s 3.67% down to $38.05 wasn’t as glaring. The good news was Consolidated Edison of New York, in the heart of the crisis zone dropped only 1.53% to $41.09, while Brooklyn-based KeySpan Energy fell only 1.41% to $32.10.

Enron Corp. took the prize for the heaviest loss among the major energy trading companies. Its stock tumbled 6.38% for the day, just managing to stay above the $30 mark. The drop in Enron stock could not be fully attributed to the terrorist attacks and four-day shutdown of the NYSE, however. The company’s stock has plunged nearly $60/share since the beginning of the year, following losses in its broadband business and the recent resignation of President and CEO Jeffrey Skilling.

Within the major energy producer group, Phillips Petroleum was the sole company to have posted a gain, ending the day up 0.05% to close at $58.59. Texaco racked up one of the largest percentage losses, down 4.52% to $67.25. Most others were closer to ExxonMobil’s neighborhood of minus 2.64% to $40.15.

Murphy Oil Corp. was one of the few independent producers to see its stock rise Tuesday, ending the day up 0.98% to close at $77.35. With the exception of Anadarko Petroleum and Noble Drilling, most independents suffered only miniscule losses during trading. Noble stock fell 5.72% to finish at $27.20 at the closing bell, while Anadarko stock decreased 4% to close at $51.35.

Among major pipeline companies, Williams Cos. Inc. was down 3.56% to $30.34, while El Paso Corp. fell just 2% for the day to close at $49.02.

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