India's first home-grown wind technology company Suzlon Energy, has posted a net loss of Rs 52.3 crore for the nine-month period ending December 31, 2008, against a net profit of Rs 565.28 crore in the year-ago period.

However, the company's total income nearly doubled to Rs 17,499.2 crore from Rs 8,924.3 crore during the same period.

The energy major's profit before tax declined to Rs 272.54 crore in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2008, from Rs 689.63 crore in the year-ago period.

Crude futures in U. S. steadied below $46 a barrel, after falling nearly 9 percent a day earlier as worries about the U. S. banking sector hit equity markets. The U. S. dollar rallied on safe-haven bids.

New York Mercantile Exchange natural gas futures ended down sharply on Monday, as a steep slide in crude, milder weather forecasts and growing supplies pressured the complex despite a rebound in physical prices.

Vienna - Dropping by 1.86 dollars Monday, the price for oil produced by the Organization of the Petroleu

New York  - The global economic crisis has scrambled the pecking order among US firms, with Exxon Mobil ousting Wal-Mart as the top revenue-earning company.

The energy company vaulted to the top of the business magazine Fortune 500 list, pushing the world's largest retailer to second place.

Profits among Fortune 500 companies saw the worst declines in the list's 55-year history, falling 85 per cent in 2008 compared to 2007, for total losses of 99 billion dollars.

U. S. crude oil futures for May delivery edged lower by 18 cents to $50.15. The contract settled 35 cents higher at $50.33 on Friday, buoyed by news of a rebound in U. S. consumer confidence and better-than-expected quarterly earnings Natural Gas prices shot up to $3.729 from $3.599 this sharp rally was attributed to short covering ahead of expiry.

Crude oil speculators on the NYMEX decreased net long positions in the week to April 14, according to data from the U. S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission released on Friday. Speculators moved to a net long 4,962 positions during the week, from 12,493 positions in the week to March 31.

Invensys Process Systems (IPS), a global technology, software and consulting firm, has entered into a five-year contract with Petrobras, to provide comprehensive safety services and solutions.

Under the arrangement, the company will implement its Triconex safety and critical controls and Avantis asset management technology to upgrade and modernize 11 Petrobras refining facilities throughout Brazil. The contract is valued at $50 million.