Sector: Utilities

TOKYO (Reuters) - Nearly three-quarters of Japanese companies support abandoning nuclear power after last year's Fukushima disaster, although a majority set the condition that alternative energy resources must be secured, a Reuters poll showed on Friday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he will nominate Allison Macfarlane, an expert in nuclear waste, as the nation's top nuclear safety cop, seeking to turn the page on a period of bitter acrimony at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he will nominate Allison Macfarlane, an expert in nuclear waste, as the nation's top nuclear safety cop, seeking to turn the page on a period of bitter acrimony at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he will nominate Allison Macfarlane, an expert in nuclear waste, as the nation's top nuclear safety cop, seeking to turn the page on a period of bitter acrimony at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ROME (Reuters) - Greece will probably remain in the euro zone, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said on Thursday, but demands made of Greece by its partners had been unrealistic and far reaching economic reform could take decades to achieve.

ROME (Reuters) - Greece will probably remain in the euro zone, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said on Thursday, but demands made of Greece by its partners had been unrealistic and far reaching economic reform could take decades to achieve.

Chesapeake Energy shares soared late in trading Thursday on revelations that Carl Icahn and BlackRock have been on a buying spree.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he will nominate Allison Macfarlane, an expert in nuclear waste, to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and plans to name her as the panel's chairman once she is confirmed by the Senate.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he will nominate Allison Macfarlane, an expert in nuclear waste, to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and plans to name her as the panel's chairman once she is confirmed by the Senate.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A leak on a natural gas pipeline in Mount Vernon, New York, has disrupted supplies to several utilities in the New York City area, according to utility company websites.

Southern Co. announced a number of key management changes Thursday as it prepares for the retirement of its chief operating officer, a 42-year veteran at the energy holding company.

A look at the 10 biggest percentage decliners on New York Stock Exchange at the close of trading:

Shares of some top utilities companies were mixed at the close of trading:

(Reuters) - Natural gas processor ONEOK Inc <OKE.N> said it expects profit to grow by 18 percent in the next two years as it ramps up spending to boost output at its unit ONEOK Partners LP <OKS.N>.

Strong winds ripped through parts of Southern California, uprooting trees and power poles, and could reach up to 80 mph on Wednesday over some mountain peaks, forecasters said.