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. _ y8 `9 O- F; j$ e
2 j S/ h* y* }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$147 per barrel in July -- it's clear the days of wondering how amazing the profits will be are over. % k! b+ v i0 L4 h2 u8 E$ H & I: J' B# }9 R h) bThis 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. 1 O; y$ L$ t* I' X( o' ?0 E! X7 @6 P5 o- F' p
Take the mammoth Suncor Energy Inc. (SU/TSX) as an example of the dramatic cuts that may be coming. ( Q- F( }/ P) H( r1 e ( d! g {- m. [% z! Q6 I$ w6 O"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.1 Z# e5 u3 k& _