Expected

Flush with cash from high oil and gas profits andbetter-than-expected merger savings, ExxonMobil Corp. will buy backas much as $671.6 million in debt next month, the company saidyesterday.

The speed at which energy companies embrace the Internet isexpected to accelerate for at least two more years, after whichcompanies that have aggressively invested in eBusiness will moveahead of competitors because of expanded revenue growthopportunities and reduced cost structures. At least that’s what anindustry survey by energy adviser Cap Gemini Ernst & Young U.S.LLC suggests.

The speed at which energy companies embrace the Internet isexpected to accelerate for at least two more years, after whichcompanies that have aggressively invested in eBusiness will moveahead of competitors because of expanded revenue growthopportunities and reduced cost structures. At least that’s what anindustry survey by energy adviser Cap Gemini Ernst & Young U.S.LLC suggests.

Better than expected profits lifted ExxonMobil and Chevron to more than double their second-quarter earnings of a year ago, as they reaped the benefit of surging oil and natural gas prices.

Better than expected profits lifted ExxonMobil and Chevron tomore than double their second-quarter earnings of a year ago, asthey reaped the benefit of surging oil and natural gas prices.

Capitol Hill observers who had expected the electricderegulation legislation of Sens. Phil Gramm (R-TX) and CharlesSchumer (D-NY) to be more aggressive and comprehensive than otherbills languishing in the Senate weren’t disappointed last week.

Capitol Hill observers who had expected the electricderegulation legislation of Sens. Phil Gramm (R-TX) and CharlesSchumer (D-NY) to be more aggressive and comprehensive than theother bills pending in the Senate weren’t disappointed yesterday.

Cash prices plunged as expected Thursday, with nearly everypoint in all markets down between 20 and 30 cents.

Prices went up by about a dime or more at nearly all pointsWednesday, but sources were in consensus that the brief marketfirmness will not continue today.