ENERGY

* Royal Dutch/Shell Group and Texaco Inc. ended talks on forming an alliance of their European oil refining and marketing activities. Shell Europe Oil Products President Paul Skinner said in a statement that the proposed venture would not maximize the stockholders’ value for both companies. Texaco and Shell in September signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a European alliance in the downstream market--a move that would have represented further consolidation of the international oil business amid weak oil prices and tough competition in the industry. Texaco shares fell $3.13 to close at $57.69 on the NYSE.