ConocoPhillips (COP: chart) reported a $1.1 billion second-quarter profit due to high oil and gas prices and lower taxes overseas. The Houston, Texas company earned $1.66 a share, compared with 91 cents a share in the same period last year.

Revenue surged 144 percent to $25.6 billion.

Phillips and Conoco merged August 30 last year, so the company is comparing earnings to only that of Phillips.

Net income for the first six months of 2003 was $3.77 cents a share, compared to Phillips’ 65 cents a share in the first six months of 2002.

Casual dining chain Applebee's International Inc. (APPB: chart) reported second-quarter earnings per share of 35 cents a share, down from 37 cents in the year-ago quarter. Results reflect a charge for non-payment of a note related to the sale of a business in 1999.

Revenue in the second quarter jumped 11 percent to $904.2 million.

The Overland Park, Kansas company raised its 2003 forecast to a range of $1.70 to $1.72, from $1.67 to $1.69 a share. Total same-store sales in 2003 are expected to rise at least 3 percent.

Aetna Inc. (AET: chart), the third-largest U.S. health insurer based in Hartford, Connecticut, said profit in the second quarter rose 28 percent as it cut medical costs and dropped members who could not bring profits. Net profit surged to 87 cents a share, from 70 cents a share in the year-ago period.

Revenue fell 13 percent to $4.5 billion.

Aetna boosted its 2003 outlook to between $5.55 and $5.70 a share, including special items, from the April forecast of $4.75 to $4.90 a share.

Cox Communications Inc. (COX: chart), the forth largest U.S. cable television provider, swung to a second-quarter profit as it added more Internet customers. Cox reported net income of 19 cents a share, compared with a loss of 86 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 14 percent to $1.42 billion.

Reader's Digest Association Inc. (RDA: chart), a publishing company based in Pleasantville, New York, said it lost 14 cents a share in the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2003, compared with three cents a share in the year-ago quarter. The company is accelerating cost-cutting plans to improve earnings.

Revenue increased 3.4 percent to $563.6 million.

Monster Worldwide Inc. (MNST: chart), an online employment site formerly known as TMP Worldwide, reported a second-quarter profit of 8 cents a share, up from a net loss of 68 cents a share a year ago. Revenue for the New York company fell 10 percent to $167.2 million.

American Electric Power (AEP: chart) more than doubled its profit in the second quarter to 44 cents a share, compared with 19 cents a share last year. The utility company, which serves five million customers in 11 states, beat First Call analysts’ expectations by four cents a share. Revenue rose 2.8 percent to $3.7 billion.

For the first six months of the year, the Columbus, Ohio company earned $1.64 cents a share, compared with a loss of 33 cents per share a year ago.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (GT: chart), the largest U.S. tiremaker, posted a $73.6 million loss in the second quarter amid high raw material expenses and the cost of layoffs. The loss of 42 cents a share compares to earnings of 18 cents a share in the same quarter a year ago. Revenue rose eight percent to $3.8 billion due to the improved brand and the weak dollar.

Airlines

Atlantic Coast Airlines Holdings (ACAI: chart) reported profit of $1.01 a share in the second quarter, compared with 30 cents a share in the year-ago period. The airline received credit as it delayed the retirement of some planes. Revenue increased 21 percent to $227.1 million.

Singapore Airlines (SPAAF.PK), Asia’s biggest airline by market capitalization posted its first-ever quarterly net loss, affected by the Iraq war and the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The company lost $178 million, compared with profits of $273 million in the same period last year. Revenue fell 35 percent to $942 million.