CALGARY - Energy companies start reporting their third-quarter results today amid an environment of plunging oil prices and with credit and equity markets in disarray.( Z8 q* V6 ^3 n
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As oil closed at US$74.25, up US$2.40 on the day -- above last week's low of US$67 but a far cry from its peak of US$147 per barrel in July -- it's clear the days of wondering how amazing the profits will be are over. 6 e) v3 t6 |0 e7 M6 {2 N9 S 3 z7 R; Y x! {This time around, capital expenditure plans will be under the microscope. Budgets may still be undergoing finishing touches, but do not expect the Street to wait for the nitty-gritty details.$ I- t4 A1 k# X6 e
( r% i; K" j2 _1 E6 q/ KTake the mammoth Suncor Energy Inc. (SU/TSX) as an example of the dramatic cuts that may be coming. 7 N5 K1 x) N5 w- | E3 X1 ^ " h- \" o2 @9 h: T; i"We would not be surprised to see Suncor take a more conservative stance towards spending by scaling back its $9-billion to $10-billion 2009 capex program to the $5-billion to $6-billion range," said Andrew Potter, an analyst at UBS Securities Inc. * Y: M6 J" }! R- b0 V3 q8 x: r5 ?9 q$ y4 j0 R http://www.financialpost.com/money/story.html?id=895061