Mobil Corp.: The nation’s second-largest oil company...

Mobil Corp.: The nation’s second-largest oil company said third-quarter earnings fell 4% to $532 million as revenue edged up to $13.6 billion from $13.1 billion. The company said the earnings drop was “principally due to lower chemical income . . . (because of) lower polyethylene prices worldwide.” Earnings in the third quarter of 1989 include a $192-million gain on a property transaction in Hong Kong; last year’s third-quarter earnings benefited from $157 million on foreign tax rate changes.