Affirms

Duke Energy on Friday reiterated it plans to meet a 2003 earnings forecast and affirmed that it expects to fully fund its annual dividend. The news sent shares of the Charlotte, NC-based energy company higher than they have been since January, gaining 58 cents to close at $19.53.

FERC last week denied a petition in which Dynegy LNG Production Terminal L.P. asked the Commission to disclaim jurisdiction over the siting, construction and operation of the company’s planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility in Hackberry, LA.

FERC has denied a petition in which Dynegy LNG Production Terminal L.P. asked the Commission to disclaim jurisdiction over the siting, construction and operation of the company’s planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility in Hackberry, LA.

El Paso Corp. said Tuesday it has hedged almost 75% of its projected natural gas production at a Nymex price of $3.85/Mcf ($3.63/MMBtu) for September through December. Next year, about 60% of its production will be hedged at $4.19/Mcf ($3.95/MMBtu), and in 2003, about 35% is hedged at $4.19/Mcf ($3.95/MMBtu).

Recent uncertainties and declines in the economies of emergingmarket countries have taken their toll in recent weeks on the stockprices of companies with significant foreign investment exposure.In the natural gas industry that includes Enron Corp. which chosethis time period to pledge over $3 billion to additional foreigninvestments.