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.( G B& o0 L$ t5 P: D
2 z0 G9 e7 z& O: P6 sAs 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$147 per barrel in July -- it's clear the days of wondering how amazing the profits will be are over.1 z# N# w0 b: @
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This time around, capital expenditure plans will be under the microscope. Budgets may still be undergoing finishing touches, but do not expect the Street to wait for the nitty-gritty details. 8 F5 P+ N( M( `; }4 N& u$ [! T3 v# E( H4 L
Take the mammoth Suncor Energy Inc. (SU/TSX) as an example of the dramatic cuts that may be coming.$ [7 C: A: f& u/ E9 h1 a
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"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 $6-billion range," said Andrew Potter, an analyst at UBS Securities Inc." u( Q- b7 ?0 h6 g8 v
5 m$ B* v: l9 \7 E http://www.financialpost.com/money/story.html?id=895061