The Wall Street Journal-20080206-Earnings Digest -- Energy- Duke Energy Corp-

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Earnings Digest -- Energy: Duke Energy Corp.

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Duke Energy Corp.'s fourth-quarter profit fell 30%, hurt by results from discontinued operations and higher plant-maintenance costs. while the company's remaining businesses posted strong results. The Charlotte, N.C., company, one of the largest U.S. electricity producers, said the latest results included a six-cents-a-share loss from discontinued operations, while year-earlier results included earnings of 16 cents a share from discontinued operations including its natural-gas unit Spectra Energy Corp., which was spun off to Duke investors in January 2007. The company's U.S. franchised electric and gas unit's results benefited from favorable weather and increased wholesale volumes. The company's commercial power unit reversed a year-earlier loss amid favorable timing of fuel recoveries and purchased power costs. Shares of Duke Energy were down 72 cents, or 3.7%, to $18.52 in 4 p.m. New York Stock Exchange composite trading.