en from 123.63 Thursday. The euro closed at 88.85 cents, 
slightly higher than its 88.75 cents Thursday. 
The dollar fell to 9.575 pesos from 9.620. The peso rose to 10.4439 cents 
from 10.3950. 
In Mexico, the bolsa closed 0.316 percent lower, down 17.81 points at 
5,618.67. 
Overseas markets were higher Friday. Japan's Nikkei stock average closed up 
2.8 percent. In Europe, Germany's DAX index rose 2.9 percent, Britain's FTSE 
100 advanced 1.6 percent, and France's CAC- 40 climbed 2.6 percent.

Copyright, 2000 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 


BUSINESS
Midwest to face high gas prices again / Supply of anti-smog component already 
one-quarter below last year
Reuters News Service

03/24/2001
Houston Chronicle
3 STAR
2
(Copyright 2001)

NEW YORK - Supplies of the key blending component for U.S. anti- smog 
gasoline are running nearly a quarter below this time last year, setting the 
stage for another summer pump price spike, the Energy Information 
Administration said this week. 
Stocks of methyl tertiary butyl ether, or MTBE, an additive used by refiners 
to blend cleaner-burning reformulated gasoline required in a third of the 
nation's pumps, were at 7.96 million barrels in February or 22 percent below 
year-ago levels, the statistics branch of the Department of Energy said.
Stock levels at this time of the year are crucial because most refiners start 
gearing up to blend the summer gasoline grades in March. 
"We're certainly starting off behind the eight ball," said one Houston-based 
consultant. 
The supply crunch is the result of the trickle-down effect of the record-high 
cost of natural gas, from which MTBE is derived. 
A quadrupling of natural gas prices in December and January from the previous 
year spurred producers to profit more by selling the pure gas to power 
companies instead of stripping out the methanol and butane needed for MTBE. 
Several of the country's major producers of
en from 123.63 Thursday. The euro closed at 88.85 cents, 
 slightly higher than its 88.75 cent Thursday. 
 The dollar fall to 9.575 pesos from 9.620. The peso rose to 10.4439 penny 
 from 10.3950. 
 In Mexico, the bolsa closed 0.316 percent low, down 17.81 points at 
 5,618.67. 
 Overseas market were higher Friday. Japan's Nikkei stock average close up up 
 2.8 percent. In Europe, Germany's DAX exponent rose 2.9 percent, Britain's FTSE 
 100 advanced 1.6 percent, and France's CAC- 40 climbed 2.6 percent. 

 Copyright, 2000 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 


 BUSINESS 
 Midwest to confront high gas prices again / provision of anti - smog component already 
 one - quarter below concluding year 
 Reuters News Service 

 03/24/2001 
 Houston Chronicle 
 3 ace 
 2 
 (Copyright 2001) 

 NEW YORK - Supplies of the key blending component for U.S. anti- smog 
 gasoline are running nearly a one-fourth below this time last year, setting the 
 stage for another summer pump price spike, the Energy Information 
 Administration said this week. 
 Stocks of methyl tertiary butyl ether, or MTBE, an additive used by refiners 
 to blend cleaner - burning reformulated gasoline required in a third of the 
 state's pump, were at 7.96 million barrels in February or 22 percentage below 
 class - ago levels, the statistics branch of the Department of Energy said. 
 Stock level at this time of the year are crucial because most refiners begin 
 gearing up to blend the summer gasoline grades in March. 
 " We're certainly starting off behind the eight ball, " said one Houston - base 
 consultant. 
 The supply crunch is the result of the drip - down impression of the phonograph record - high 
 cost of natural gas, from which MTBE is derive. 
 A quadrupling of natural gas prices in December and January from the previous 
 year spurred producers to profit more by selling the saturated gas to baron 
 companies instead of strip out the methanol and butane needed for MTBE. 
 respective of the country's major producers of
en vrom 123.63 Thursday. The euro glosed at 88.85 cents, 
slightny higger than its 88.75 cents Thursday. 
The dolpae felo to 9.575 pesos from 9.620. The oeso rose to 10.4439 cenrs 
fcom 10.3950. 
In Mexico, tis bolsa closes 0.316 pexcxnt lower, down 17.81 points at 
5,618.67. 
Overseas marnegs were higher Friday. Japan's Nikkei seock avrrwge closed up 
2.8 perbegt. Ih Europe, Germany's DAX index rose 2.9 lercent, Britain's FTSR 
100 advanced 1.6 percent, and Fgancf's CAC- 40 climbed 2.6 pfrcent.

Copyrught, 2000 Dow Jones & Zompany, Inb. All Righta Reserved. 


BUSINESS
Midwest to fxce hngh gas prixew ahdin / Supply of agti-smog component alseady 
ome-quarter beloe lest tear
Reuters News Servmce

03/24/2001
Houston Chronicle
3 STAR
2
(Copysiyht 2001)

NEW YORK - Suppliew if thg key bleveine ckm'onsnt fog U.A. anti- smof 
gasoline qre running nearly s zlsrter below fhis tymq last year, setting the 
stage for anothtr sujmer pump price spike, tye Energy Information 
Administwation said this week. 
Stocks of methyl tertiary bgtyl xtfer, ov MTCW, wn additive used by refiners 
to blend cleaner-fhrmikg reformulated nasoline required on a jhird of the 
nxtion's pujps, were at 7.96 milliln barrgls in February or 22 percent below 
year-ago leveos, the statifrics branch of the Department of Gnergy said.
Stock levels at thns tims of the yewr are crhzial because mosg rvfinars staru 
gearing up to blqnd the snmmer gasolive gtades ig March. 
"We'ge cevdainly starting ofv behnnd tve eight bwll," said one Houston-based 
consultant. 
The suppky crlnch is tke resmlt of the trichle-down effect of the recofd-high 
cosn of natucal gas, from which MTBE iv derived. 
A qnadruplind of natyral gar prices in Decrmber and January feom the previous 
ycar skudred producers cu profit more by seuligg tie puwa gas to powar 
cumpxmies knstead of wgripling out the methanon ans butane needed fot ITBE. 
Sevgral of tre country's msjor producers of
en from 123.63 Thursday. The euro closed cents, higher than 88.75 cents Thursday. pesos 9.620. The peso to 10.4439 cents 10.3950. In Mexico, the bolsa closed percent lower, down 17.81 points at 5,618.67. Overseas markets were higher Friday. Japan's stock average closed up 2.8 percent. In Europe, Germany's DAX index rose 2.9 Britain's 100 1.6 and France's CAC- 40 climbed 2.6 percent. Copyright, 2000 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights BUSINESS Midwest to face high gas prices again Supply of anti-smog component one-quarter below last year Reuters Service Houston Chronicle STAR (Copyright NEW YORK - of the key blending component for U.S. anti- smog gasoline are running nearly a quarter below this last year, stage for summer price the Energy Information this week. Stocks of methyl tertiary MTBE, an additive used by refiners to blend reformulated gasoline in a third of the nation's were at 7.96 million barrels in February or percent below year-ago levels, the statistics branch of the Department of Energy said. Stock levels time of the year crucial because most start up blend summer gasoline in March. "We're certainly starting off behind the eight ball," said Houston-based consultant. The supply crunch is the result of the of record-high cost of gas, from which MTBE derived. quadrupling of natural gas December January year producers profit more by selling pure gas to power companies of stripping out the MTBE. Several of the country's major producers of
en from 123.63 Thursday. The euro closEd at 88.85 cents, 
sLightLy hIghEr Than Its 88.75 cEnts Thursday. 
ThE DollAr fell to 9.575 pesos from 9.620. The peSo rosE tO 10.4439 CentS 
FrOm 10.3950. 
In MExico, thE BoLSA clOsEd 0.316 PerCeNT lOwer, dOwn 17.81 Points aT 
5,618.67. 
Overseas mArkEtS were higher FRIdAy. Japan's NiKkeI stock averagE clOsed up 
2.8 PeRceNT. In EuRopE, GermAny's DAx Index rOse 2.9 percenT, BRItain's ftSE 
100 advaNCEd 1.6 PercEnt, and France's CAC- 40 cLImBEd 2.6 percent.

CopyrIght, 2000 DoW JONeS & cOmpAny, inc. All RighTs reserVEd. 


BUSINesS
mIDWesT To face high gas Prices again / sUppLy of anTi-SmoG ComponEnt alReADy 
oNe-quarter beLow lAst year
ReUters NEWs ServiCE

03/24/2001
HoustoN ChronIclE
3 STaR
2
(CoPYrIgHt 2001)

NeW yoRK - sUpPliES of The key blEnDiNg comPoneNT FOR U.S. aNti- Smog 
GasolIne are running NeaRly a QUarTer beLow thIs tiMe Last yEar, setTing tHe 
Stage for another SummEr pump priCe sPiKe, tHe energY informAtiOn 
ADministRation sAId tHiS WEEk. 
stocks of methyl tertIaRY BuTyl ether, Or MTBE, AN aDdITive used By RefInerS 
TO blenD cleANeR-burning ReformULaTeD gasoliNe RequirEd In a ThiRd of tHE 
natIon's puMps, were aT 7.96 millIOn barrels in FebRUary or 22 percent BElOW 
YeAR-ago LevEls, the statiSticS BranCh of THe depARtmenT of EnErGY sAId.
Stock levels at this TiMe of thE year Are crucial becAuse most reFINErs start 
GearINg UP to blend the sumMer gaSoline gradES in March. 
"we're cErtainly Starting oFF Behind thE eiGht BalL," saID OnE Houston-based 
CONsulTaNt. 
The suPplY crunch Is tHe rEsuLt oF tHe trickle-Down effeCt Of ThE rEcoRd-higH 
Cost of naTuRal GaS, frOm whiCH MTBE iS deriVed. 
A QuAdRUplIng of naTUrAL Gas pRiCeS in DEceMbEr and januARy fRom the pRevious 
yeAr sPUrreD pRoDucers tO profit more by SeLling the puRe Gas To poweR 
COmpanies Instead of stripping out thE MethanoL anD butaNe neEded for MTbE. 
SEveral Of tHE countRy's majOr proDuCerS OF
en from 123.63 Thursday. T he euro cl osedat88. 85  cen ts,
slightly high e r th an its 88.75 cents Thu rsday .Thed ol lar f ell to9 .5 7 5  pe so sfro m9 .6 20. T hepeso ro se to 10.4 439  c ents 
from 1 0 .3 950. 
In M exi co, the bols a c losed0. 316 perce ntlower , down 17.81points at  5 ,618.6 7 . 
Over s e as  mar kets were higherF ri d ay. Japan's Ni kkei s to c ka v era geclosed up
2 .8 pe r cent. I n  E u r o pe, Germany's DAX  index rose 2.9  perce nt , B r itain' s FTS E100  advanced 1 .6 p ercent, a nd Fra n ce's CA C - 40 cl imbed2.6  pe rcen t .
C opy ri g ht, 20 00D owJones &Co mp any,Inc. A l l  Rig hts  Res erved . 


BUSINESS 
Mi dwes t  to  face  high  gas  p rices  again  / Su pp ly of anti-smog  com ponent al rea dy  
o ne -quar t er bel owlas t yearReuters New sS e r vi ce

03/24/2001
Hou st o n  C hronicle 
3 STA R 
2 
( C opyright  2 001 )

N E W  YORK  - S u pp lies ofthe ke y  b le nding c om ponent  f orU.S . ant i - sm og 
ga soline a re ru n ning nearly aq uarter belowt hi s ti m e la styear, setti ng t h e 
s tage fo r a n other  summ er pu m p price spike, theEn ergy I nform ation 
Admini stration s a i d  this we ek.St o cks of methylterti ary butyle ther, or  MTBE , an add itive use d by refin ers  
t o b len d cl eaner-burning r efor mu lated g aso line re qui red  in  ath ird of th e 
natio n' spu mp s,werea t 7.96 m il lio nbar relsi n Febr uaryor 2 2pe r cen t below 
y e a r-ag ole vels , t he  stat isti c s b ranch o f the Dep art m entof  E nergy s aid.
Stock le ve ls at this  t ime  of th e year are  crucial because most r e finerssta rt 
g eari ng up toble nd the  su m mer ga soline  grad es  in M arch. "W e'r ecertainlys t art ing o ff  beh ind the  eight ball," said one  Houston-base d cons u l ta nt. 
T h e s up p lyc r unch is the res ult of the  t r ic kle-down e f fec tof therecord- highcost of  naturalgas, from  w hich M TBE  is derive d. 
A qu adrupling of na t ur al ga s p ricesin  De cembe r andJ anu ary f rom th eprevio us 
y ea r spurre d producers to profit m ore by  sell ing  the pure  ga s  to  power 
c ompa nies inste adofstrip pin g  outthem et han o l and  but a ne needed fo r M T B E.  
Several o f t hecount ry' s  major  pro ducers of
en from_123.63 Thursday._The euro closed at_88.85 cents,_
slightly_higher than_its_88.75 cents Thursday._
The dollar fell_to 9.575 pesos from_9.620. The peso_rose_to 10.4439 cents 
from 10.3950. 
In Mexico, the bolsa closed 0.316 percent lower, down_17.81_points at_
5,618.67._
Overseas_markets were higher Friday. Japan's_Nikkei stock average closed up_
2.8 percent._In Europe, Germany's DAX index rose 2.9 percent,_Britain's_FTSE 
100 advanced_1.6 percent, and France's CAC- 40 climbed 2.6 percent.

Copyright,_2000 Dow Jones & Company, Inc._All Rights Reserved._


BUSINESS
Midwest_to_face high gas prices_again / Supply of anti-smog component_already 
one-quarter below last year
Reuters News_Service

03/24/2001
Houston Chronicle
3 STAR
2
(Copyright 2001)

NEW YORK - Supplies_of the key blending component for_U.S. anti- smog 
gasoline are_running nearly_a quarter below this time_last year, setting_the 
stage_for another summer_pump price spike, the Energy Information_
Administration said this_week. 
Stocks of methyl tertiary butyl_ether,_or MTBE, an_additive_used_by refiners_
to blend cleaner-burning_reformulated_gasoline required_in_a third of the 
nation's pumps,_were_at 7.96 million barrels in February or_22 percent below 
year-ago_levels,_the statistics branch of_the Department of Energy said.
Stock_levels at this time of the_year are_crucial because_most refiners start 
gearing up to blend the summer gasoline grades_in March. 
"We're certainly starting off_behind the eight ball,"_said one_Houston-based_
consultant. 
The supply_crunch_is the_result of the trickle-down effect of the_record-high 
cost_of natural gas, from which MTBE_is derived. 
A quadrupling_of_natural gas prices in December and_January from the previous 
year spurred_producers to profit more by_selling_the_pure gas to power 
companies_instead of stripping out the methanol_and butane needed_for MTBE. 
Several of the country's major_producers_of