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.. c' E0 G) L; t2 E4 ~
1 d8 |/ K# v7 }$ yAs 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$147 per barrel in July -- it's clear the days of wondering how amazing the profits will be are over.* x' ~4 `/ B1 t% N* S
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This time around, capital expenditure plans will be under the microscope. Budgets may still be undergoing finishing touches, but do not expect the Street to wait for the nitty-gritty details.4 [" _# w; `' v4 I" N4 C" N
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Take the mammoth Suncor Energy Inc. (SU/TSX) as an example of the dramatic cuts that may be coming. : V4 v" Q7 e$ B6 ?" m+ Y 7 V! W- i( L+ W% }! u7 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. 0 K+ \- v( M2 F( u& d) l) m % A+ w! H; e3 chttp://www.financialpost.com/money/story.html?id=895061