Duke Energy 2Q profit declines 21 pct

Duke Energy Co. said its profit declined 21 percent in the second quarter to $276 million or 21 cents per share from $351 million or 28 cents per share a year earlier as the economy affected commercial sales prices.

Spectra Energy 2Q earnings slumped 53 pct

Natural gas pipeline operator Spectra Energy Corp. reported Tuesday that its second-quarter earnings dropped 53 percent to $140 million or 22 cents per share, down from $295 million or 47 cents per share in the same period a year ago.

Oil slips

Crude oil futures declined below $71 per barrel on Tuesday on worries that U.S. crude stockpiles increased last week. Prices had increased for three days.

Energy