EARNINGS
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Unocal’s 4th-Quarter Profit Falls 57%: The Los Angeles-based oil company cited lower crude oil and domestic natural gas prices and lower margins on petroleum products. Unocal Corp. earned $44 million, or 14 cents per share, during the October-December period, compared to $103 million, 39 cents per share, during the year-earlier quarter. Sales fell 20%, from $2.46 billion to $1.97 billion. For the year, Unocal earnings fell 3%, from $220 million, or 85 cents per share, to $213 million, or 73 cents per share. Sales fell 17%, from $10 billion to $8.34 billion.
