For the complete report, please visit the following page.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/weekly_petroleum_status_report/current/txt/wpsr.txt


INTERNATIONAL MARKET NEWS

Asian-Pacific markets closed mostly up with the Nikkei among the leading gainers, rising 1.66% on optimism for the Japanese economy and strong gains on Wall Street after the Fed Reserve raised interest rates in line with expectations. In Tokyo all sectors gained with export-related issues in the lead. Among the other gainers in the regional markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 1.98% and South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.5%. The dollar was trading at the upper end of 111-yen.

European markets finished higher, boosted by data of slowing inflation in the U.S., increased U.S. interest rates to 3.5%, bullish Japanese equity markets and upbeat results in the regional stocks from insurer Allianz and airline Lufthansa. The German DAX 30 gained 1.65%, the French CAC 40 added 0.8%, while London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.2% with gains capped by losses for stocks that went ex-dividend.

ENERGY, METALS AND CURRENCIES MARKETS

Global crude-oil prices retreated to $63-a-barrel level after U.S. government data showed that crude stocks swell. Light sweet crude traded as low as $62.91 a barrel and stood at $63.30. London Brent was trading at $62.49.

Gold futures rose on falling dollar in European trading. Gold in London traded at $436.10 per troy ounce, up from $433.35. In Hong Kong gold gained 90 cents too close at $435.65. Silver closed at $7.04, up from $6.96.

Copper advanced on London Metal Exchange on stock speculation and supply concerns. Copper for delivery in three months rose $19 to $3,508 a ton. It has risen 11% this year and is the best performer on the LME.

The U.S. dollar declined against the other major currencies in European trading, despite the increased U.S. interest rates to 3.5%. The euro was quoted at $1.2386, up from $1.2366. The yen stood at 110.43, down from 111.96. The British pound was traded at $1.7963, up from $1.7864.

EARNINGS NEWS

Cisco Systems’s 4Q net income rose 11.6% to 24 cents a share vs. 20 cents a share a year ago. Sales at the network equipment maker rose 11.1% to $6.58 billion.

Walt Disney Co. reported a 41% jump in earnings to 41 cents a share vs. 29 cents a share a year ago. Revenue was $7.72 billion vs. last year's $7.47 billion.

Panera Bread’s 2Q net earnings rose 61% to 33 cents a share vs. 21 cents a share, in the year-ago period, meeting analysts’ forecasts. The company expects a 3Q per-share profit of 34 - 35 cents, and 4Q net earnings of 46 - 47 cents a share. For 2005, Panera forecast net earnings of $1.57 - $1.59 a share and comparable sales growth of 6.2% - 7.8%

ECost.com, online discount retailer, reported a 2Q net loss of 54 cents a share vs. breakeven last year, citing cited additional operating costs and increased public company costs from its spinoff from PC Mall Inc., as well as a $6.5 million non-cash tax provision.

AIG Inc., posted 2Q profit of $1.53 per share vs. $1.01 per share last year, attributing the increase to large accounting gains booked during the quarter. Analysts expected the New York-based insurer to earn $1.21 per share during the period.

Allianz AG, insurer, said 2Q net income, adjusted for goodwill amortization, climbed 65% to 846 million euros, with revenue up 6.6% to 23.7 billion euros, beating the company’s expectations.

Lenovo Group, PC maker, said 4Q earnings rose 6% to HK$357 million ($46 million), with revenue up 234% to HK$19.6 billion.

Lufthansa, airline company, said it reversed to a 2Q profit of 116 million euros as operating profit rose 87.2% and revenue was up 4.3% on increased sales and better average fares.

CORPORATE NEWS