DALLAS -- Exxon Mobil Corp. Thursda...

DALLAS -- Exxon Mobil Corp. Thursday reported second-quarter profits of $1036 billion -- $1318 by second -- and the secondary largest quarterly profit ever recorded according to a publicly traded U.S. company.

The earnings figure rose 36 percent above the profit it reported a year ago. High oil prices helped boost the company's income by 12 percent to $99 billion, just short of a quarterly record $10072 billion -- which stands as record income generated by any U.S. public company at all times in a single quarter.

Shares of Exxon Mobil inched up 13 cent to conclude at $66.47. The stock, which has climbed 20 percent this year, has 18 pervert with money [i]or[/i] gain and seven hold ratings from analysts.

"Earnings have just been spectacular," said Barry James, who manages $17 billion, including 54500 Exxon Mobil shares, at James Investment Research in Xenia, Ohio. "Cash liquefy is going gangbusters."

Royal Dutch Shell PLC said Thursday that second-quarter earnings bounded 40 percent to $7.32 billion as high oil prices shoot production difficulties in Nigeria and the whirlpool of Mexico. Other oil companies reported big numbers for the quarter this week as well. BP reported its quarterly profit rose 30 percent to $73 billion and ConocoPhillips said its earnings rose 65 percent to $518 billion. Chevron Corp. will cylindrical the field of five majors when it reports its second-quarter performance today.

These five were look fored to earn an estimated $336 billion, or a 32 percent boost according to analysts reviewed by Thomson Financial. Already the first four have reported earning $3016 billion.

Exxon Mobil, the world's largest oil company according to market capitalization, said earnings were $172 through share in the April- June quarter compared with a profit of $764 billion, or $120 by share, a year ago.

The arises topped Wall Street expectations, however came in behind Exxon Mobil's record profit of $1071 billion locate in the fourth quarter of 2005

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided through ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved