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   [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE]       [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]     	 [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE]          Updated: Dec. 21, 2001     [IMAGE]      [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]    [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE]           A sci-fi twist in clean coal research  In an intriguing twist on an old idea, researchers have developed a microbe that thrives on the environmentally undesirable components of coal. The single-celled creature fuels its own growth by metabolizing sulfur, nitrogen and other elements... [IMAGE] [IMAGE]         [IMAGE]    [IMAGE] [IMAGE]       [IMAGE]      [IMAGE] [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]           [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]           [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]           [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]           [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]           [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]           [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]           [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]           [IMAGE]             [IMAGE] [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]           [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]          [IMAGE] [IMAGE]             [IMAGE] [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]          [IMAGE] [IMAGE]     [IMAGE]       Fight over hydro project could become war Outcome could set precedent for other relicensing   Environmental issues may be deciding factor   [IMAGE] [IMAGE]        [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] [IMAGE]             [IMAGE] [IMAGE]             [IMAGE] [IMAGE]     [IMAGE]       Enron auditor, SEC official admit failures Enron withheld vital information  Analysts were slow to drop coverage   [IMAGE] [IMAGE]        [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]   [IMAGE] [IMAGE]             [IMAGE] [IMAGE]             [IMAGE] [IMAGE]     [IMAGE]       Central American electricity grid takes big step forward  Necessary pieces falling into place to create system   Endesa on board; IDB reconfigures financing   [IMAGE] [IMAGE]        [IMAGE]   [IMAGE]  [IMAGE] [IMAGE]             [IMAGE] [IMAGE]             [IMAGE] [IMAGE]   ChevronTexaco teams with Energy Conversion Devices full story...  Calpine finalizes contract for 500 MW with TX industrial customers full story...  Enbridge acquires majority ownership in Frontier Pipeline full story...  Enron's Fastow meets with SEC full story...  DOE closes chapter on breeder reactor program full story...  PNM asks court to dismiss Western Resources' lawsuit full story...  Fitch may cut ratings of five power companies full story...  Kentucky grid cannot handle all new generation proposed full story...  Dynegy sells 25 million shares; lowers earnings guidance full story...  Energy sector included in $24 billion homeland security fund full story...  To view all of today's Executive News headlines,  click here             [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE]         [IMAGE] [IMAGE]  Copyright ? 2001 - Platts, All Rights Reserved   [IMAGE]   Market Brief  Thursday, December 20  Stocks Close Change % Change DJIA 9,985.18 (85.3) -0.85% DJ 15 Util. 286.03 (2.6) -0.89% NASDAQ 1,918.52 (64.37) -3.25% S&P 500 1,139.93 (9.6) -0.84%     Market Vols Close Change % Change AMEX (000) 158,650 4,095.0  2.65% NASDAQ (000) 2,018,885 115,679.0  6.08% NYSE (000) 1,435,816 (20,489.0) -1.41%     Commodities Close Change % Change Crude Oil (Feb) 19.3 (0.06) -0.31% Heating Oil (Jan) 0.546 (0.017) -3.09% Nat. Gas (Henry) 2.71 0.100  3.83% Propane (Jan) 31.50 (1.00) -3.08% Palo Verde (Jan) 28.00 0.00  0.00% COB (Jan) 28.00 0.00  0.00% PJM (Jan) 31.15 0.05  0.16%     Dollar US $ Close Change % Change Australia $  1.976 0.019  0.97% Canada $   1.58 0.003  0.19% Germany Dmark  2.18 0.006  0.28% Euro   0.8981 (0.002) -0.26% Japan ?en  128.7 0.500  0.39% Mexico NP 9.16 0.030  0.33% UK Pound   0.6915 0.0017  0.25%     Foreign Indices Close Change % Change Arg MerVal 320.46 47.70  17.49% Austr All Ord. 3,286.20 18.50  0.57% Braz Bovespa 12918.14 (371.87) -2.80% Can TSE 300  7455.00 (46.10) -0.61% Germany DAX 4934.14 (50.55) -1.01% HK HangSeng 11601.14 35.91  0.31% Japan Nikkei 225  10434.52 (37.41) -0.36% Mexico IPC  6263.29 12.55  0.20% UK FTSE 100 5,080.20 (40.40) -0.79%       Source:  Yahoo!, TradingDay.com and NYMEX.com     	    [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]        [IMAGE] [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]  [IMAGE]     	  	


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