Turbulent

Coming off of a turbulent week that saw its CEO resign unexpectedly, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. said last week that it has updated its first quarter 2003 financial guidance, increasing its earnings estimate to $1.35 per share (diluted) from $1.15 per share announced previously and its cash flow estimate to $3 per share from $2.60 per share.

Coming off of a turbulent week that saw its CEO resign unexpectedly, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. on Monday updated its first quarter 2003 financial guidance, increasing its earnings estimate to $1.35 per share (diluted) from $1.15 per share announced previously and its cash flow estimate to $3 per share from $2.60 per share.

After seeing its corporate credit rating downgraded to two levels below “junk status” and its stock skid to a low of 78 cents at one point last week, Williams Cos. Inc. got some much-needed good news Friday. First, the company announced it had reached an agreement in principle with California and a number of other parties, including Washington and Oregon, on a settlement to resolve all outstanding litigation/claims and refunds for electricity overcharges, and then FERC signaled it probably would not strip Williams of its license to sell power at unregulated rates.

After seeing its corporate credit rating downgraded to two levels below “junk status” and its stock skid to a low of 78 cents at one point last week, Williams Cos. Inc. got some much-needed good news Friday. First, the company announced it had reached an agreement in principle with California and a number of other parties, including Washington and Oregon, on a settlement to resolve all outstanding litigation/claims and refunds for electricity overcharges, and then FERC signaled it probably would not strip Williams of its license to sell power at unregulated rates.

An actively traded over-the-counter market set the stage for aturbulent session Friday in the natural gas pit at Nymex andtraders did not disappoint — taking prices higher on the openbefore sending them lower in two distinct selling waves.

Warm weather in its key market areas intensified a turbulentyear for Avista Corp., the company said last week, and its fourthquarter earnings will reflect it.