Drop

As presaged Tuesday by late retrenchment in cash quotes and ascreen drop that carried over into Access trading, the cash marketwas in full retreat Wednesday. All points were off by at least anickel or so, and most of the decreases were around a dime. In whatwas described often as quiet trading, the softening Henry Hubfutures contract for June was the only significant influence oncash that sources could cite.

BP Amoco first quarter replacement cost profit, beforeexceptional items, was $761 million after adjusting for specialcharges of $84 million for merger integration costs. Results weredown 12% from the previous quarter and down 41% from the firstquarter of 1998. The decrease reflected a substantial deteriorationin the trading environment, the company said.

Texaco reported a 60% drop and Phillips registered an 89%decline in first quarter net income, excluding special items,compared to the first quarter of 1998. While the first quarterdecline in crude and natural gas prices was blamed for the earningsfall-off, Texaco Chairman Peter I. Bijur found a positive sign forthe rest of the year in the fact that “prices have strengthenedsignificantly.”

Enron Corp. has eliminated the last vestiges of its one-timehigh-profile venture into California’s residential electricitymarket by pulling out of its deal with the resort city of PalmSprings. Enron was the energy service provider for a citygovernment-established aggregation business, which had about 2,000mostly residential customers lured away from the local monopolyprovider, Southern California Edison.

Texaco reported a 60% drop and Phillips registered an 89%decline in first quarter net income, excluding special items,compared to the first quarter of 1998. While the first quarterdecline in crude and natural gas prices was blamed for the earningsfall-off, Texaco Chairman Peter I. Bijur found a positive sign forthe rest of the year in the fact that “prices have strengthenedsignificantly.”

Exxon was hit and hit hard during the first quarter, posting a40% drop in profits, the company announced yesterday. Earningsdropped to $1.02 billion from $1.82 billion in 1Q98. Revenue fellto $26.884 billion from $29.964 billion in 1Q98. The results fromthe first three months of 1999 also included a $120 million chargefor restructuring Japanese operations.

Vastar Resources had a far better year in the field than it didin the commodity marketplace, reporting first-quarter 1999 netincome of $19 million, down from $48 million during the firstquarter of 1998. However, Vastar achieved a 24% increase inproduction and continued exploratory success, and is predictingbetter times ahead.

Vastar Resources had a far better year in the field than it didin the commodity marketplace, reporting first-quarter 1999 netincome of $19 million, down from $48 million during the firstquarter of 1998. However, Vastar achieved a 24% increase inproduction and continued exploratory success, and is predictingbetter times ahead.

The drop in gas load that usually accompanies a weekendreduction of business activity failed to dampen the cash market’sbullishness Friday. Though a few points (El Paso-Permian andTrunkline-South Texas) eked out only penny upticks and CIG and Wahawere essentially flat, most markets achieved gains of 3-7 cents.Influencing factors were unchanged from earlier in the week,sources said: Western cold, Southern heat, a higher screen andelectric utilities using gas in peaking units while many nuclearand coal plants are down for refueling or other maintenance.