Oil companies post record earnings as sky-high gas prices linger
Major Western oil companies reported record profits in the second quarter alongside gas prices that have topped a national average of more than $5 a gallon.
ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell posted a combined $46 billion in earnings for the second quarter, according to earnings statements from the three companies. Exxon reported $17.9 billion in earnings, Chevron said it earned $11.6 billion.
The London-based Shell said it earned $16.7 billion when the cost of supplies is factored in. Its adjusted earnings for the quarter, which exclude certain price changes and one-time expenses, was $11.5 billion.
ExxonMobil and Chevron’s share prices are now just a few dollars short of their year-to-date highs, as the companies promised to increase stock buybacks and pay down debt, actions designed to reward shareholders.
At the same time, the companies say they plan to use their profits to build their energy supplies at a time when they
Alex Jones’ company files for bankruptcy amid Texas trial to award damages to Sandy Hook families
Jones’ decision to seek bankruptcy protection for his company, Free Speech Systems, which operates the right-wing conspiratorial outlet Infowars, also comes after he was found legally responsible in a separate defamation case in Connecticut.
In that Connecticut case, a different group of families similarly sued Jones over false claims he made about the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting.
In a bizarre legal twist, Jones also filed a complaint Thursday against his own company in Connecticut, a move that could further delay proceedings in the Connecticut trial.
The attorney representing Jones in the Texas defamation case, Federico Andino
Mega Millions jackpot: How much will winner owe in taxes?
Check out what’s clicking on FoxBusiness.com.
The billion-dollar Mega Millions jackpot has finally been claimed in Illinois after being purchased at a Speedway gas station in Des Plaines.
But how much of that will end up in the winner’s pocket, and how much will be owed in taxes?
The tax bill depends on whether the Mega Millions winner chooses a cash payout of $780.5 million or annual payments totaling $1.3 billion over 29 years.
A jackpot-winning Mega Millions ticket was purchased at a Speedway location in Des Plaines, Illinois, Friday, July 29, 2022. (Google Street View / Google Maps)
llinois currently withholds 24% in federal taxes, and 4.95% in state income taxes, though that may not be the total tax obligation, depending on the winner’s financial situation.
MEGA MILLIONS $1.28 BILLION JACKPOT: SHOULD YOU TAKE A LUMP SUM OR ANNUAL PAYOUTS?
If the winner decides to take the $780.5 million
Why drug stores lock up their products behind plastic cases
Locking up their shelves is a last resort for stores, but it has never been more widely practiced. It’s also become a growing irritation for shoppers and a source of frustration for some employees who must walk around the store with keys at the ready.
“It’s extremely discouraging to customers,” said Paco Underhill, the founder and CEO of behavioral research and consulting firm Envirosell. “It is a brutal experience for the merchant, too.”
The reason why stores resort to locking up these products is simple: to prevent shoplifting. But these decisions are far more nuanced and fraught for stores than you may think. Companies must walk
Payment Gateway: Definition, Types, and Consideration to Choose the Right One
A payment gateway is a middleman between your eCommerce store and the customer. The payment gateway collects money from customers and sends it to your bank account or another designated payment processor.
The best way to think about a payment gateway is like a bank account. But it goes beyond that; it’s also an interface with APIs that lets you accept payments via credit card, debit card, or other methods.
Types of Payment Gateways
There are two types of payment gateways:
- Direct
The merchant directly receives the customer’s credit card information from them, typically via email or an online form.
- Indirect (third-party)
The merchant doesn’t capture any credit card information from the customer, but a third party does. There are several different types of indirect gateways that merchants can choose from including PayPal, Amazon Pay, and Authorize.net