On Apr 29, 1:23*pm, Darrel Toepfer wrote:
Jumpin Jahosaphat wrote:
The problem Lars is the price is artificially inflated to a big degree.
As proof, in the US companies must annually report their profits. Last
year Exxon reported a profit of $4Billion US. Which is the largest profit
of ANY company of ANY product anywhere in the world, including all these
Cartel countries. The problem is one of gouging on the part of certain
companies.

Exxon Mobil said its net income for 2007 was $40.6 billion, a record for an
American company.

Royal Dutch Shell made a profit of $27.6 billion last year ($114 billion in
sales sofar this year), the biggest ever for a European company, 1st
quarter profit was $9.08 billion this year.

$89.2 billion in sales for BP, 1st quarter profit of $7.6 billion.

ConocoPhillips $4.14 billion net income for the 1st quarter. Exxon Mobil
and Chevron are both due to report 1st quarter earnings later this week.

They don't call it "black gold" for nut'n...

89.2 billion in sales, profit of 7.6 billion - sounds like about a
normal profit for any business. When discussing how much profict a
company makes it should be expressed in percent of gross, not jus the
total amount. Total is meaningless without the underlying gross to
compute the percentage.

Harry K