Occidental Petroleum Corp.: The Los Angeles-based oil,...

Occidental Petroleum Corp.: The Los Angeles-based oil, natural gas and agribusiness concern posted third-quarter profit of $109 million, about the same as a year earlier. Sales totaled $5.4 billion, a gain of 13%. The results were attributed to improvement in oil and gas, natural gas transmission, agribusiness and coal operations. The figures also included an after-tax charge of $16 million associated with the previously announced settlement in the Wyoming Tight Sands litigation, partially offset by an after-tax gain of $8 million from the sale of domestic gas properties. A net loss of $2 million was recorded due to the early retirement of debt, which was partially offset by a federal income tax benefit.