Crude oil slid below $58 a barrel on weekly petroleum report, easing supply concerns, and signs of lower-than-expected global demand in 2005. Light sweet crude December delivery lost $1.23 to trade at $57.70 a barrel on the Nymex, the lowest level in about three months and a half. Heating oil shed 5 cents to trade at $1.74 a gallon. Gasoline declined 4 cents to $1.5075. Natural gas dropped 44 cents to $11.23 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Gold prices further advanced in European trading. In London the precious metal closed at $466.60, up from $463.65. In Zurich gold rose to $467.55 from $462.45. In Hong Kong gold gained $4.50 to close at $466.75. Silver traded unchanged at $7.46.

The U.S. dollar traded mixed against major currencies. The euro was quoted at $1.1738, down from $1.1763. The dollar bought 118.03 yen, up from 117.47. The British pound traded at $1.7461, up from $1.7426.

EARNINGS NEWS

Siemens AG (SI: chart), industrial conglomerate, posted a 88% decline in Q4 profit at 77 million euros, with the units it''s holding onto seeing a 32% profit decline. Siemens sold the loss-making handsets division to BenQ during Q4. Communications profit went down 81% on severance charges and market-driven margin pressures, Siemens Business Services'' loss widened to 427 million euros from 28 million euros on charges, and its VDO Automotive unit saw a 8% profit decline amid a decline in investment and higher R&D expenses.

Rockwell Collins Inc. (COL: chart), producer of communications and aviation electronics, announced that Q4 net income rose 29% to 62 cents a share from 48 cents a share in the year-ago period on 15% higher sales, in line with analyst estimate of 62 cents a share. Earnings and revenue in fiscal 2006 should rise by double-digit percentages.

W&T Offshore Inc. (WTI: chart), oil and gas company, said that Q3 net income climbed 40% to 80 cents a share from 58 cents a share in the same period last year on 27% higher revenue, missing analysts’ forecasts of 86 cents a share. The company also said that on account of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, it deferred 5.3 billion cubic feet equivalent of production in Q3 and will defer 11.7 Bcfe in Q4.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR: chart), roasted coffee distributor, reported that Q4 net income rose to 31 cents a share, up from 27 cents a share in the same period last year on 14.6% sales growth. Total coffee pounds shipped were up 9.3%. The Company''s net income in Q4 includes recognition of non-cash income of $0.01 per share as a result of its equity investment in Keurig, Inc. as compared to a non-cash loss of $0.04 per share in Q4 of fiscal 2004.

Hospira (HSP: chart), hospital products maker, reported that Q3 profit dropped 2.3% to 37 cents a share. Adjusted earnings came in at $1.90 and $1.95 a share on sales of $2.6 billion. Termination of an agreement to distribute Berlex imaging agents offset rising volume, mix and pricing of other products. Adjusted for expenses relating to creating an independent infrastructure, it would''ve earned 48 cents a share, topping analysts’ views of earnings of 40 cents a share.

Four Seasons Hotels Inc. (FS: chart), hotels operator, reported a Q3 loss of 31 cents a share, down from 24 cents a share in the year-ago period on revenue decline. Adjusted earnings amounted to 22 cents, down from 24 cents a share in the comparable period last year.

Movie Gallery (MOVI: chart), video rental company, posted a Q3 loss of 39 cents a share, down vs. a profit of 29 cents a share in the same period a year ago on despite revenue growth, missing analyst estimate of a profit of 6 cents a share. If not for non-recurring items, the loss would have come at 16 cents a share. Revenue rose to $572.4 million from $189.9 million.