Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Exxon, Chevron Scramble to Protect $40B Cash Booty

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 25, 2009 11:22 AM CDT

(Newser) – In times like these, everyone’s got problems. Exxon and Chevron? Finding safe places to stash $40 billion they stockpiled while oil prices were stratospheric last summer. “The biggest challenge we’ve had is making sure all the cash is there every morning,” Exxon’s CEO tells Bloomberg, adding of his treasurer, “I tell Don he has to count every dollar before he goes to bed.”

When vehicles like credit-default swaps started to sour, Exxon began shifting its cash. “We had to make a lot of fairly significant moves very quickly,” notes the CEO. Now, neither company will say where it’s parked its billions, but “let me assure you that we’re well protected,” says Chevron’s CEO.

The challenge for companies sitting on a lot of cash is to earn the highest return they can, one analyst says. There%u2019s little doubt they are earning less on their cash than they were a year ago.%u201D
"The challenge for companies sitting on a lot of cash is to earn the highest return they can," one analyst says. "There%u2019s little doubt they are earning less on their cash than they were a year ago.%u201D...   (AP Photo)
An Exxon tanker truck makes a refueling stop in Arlington, Va., Jan. 30, 2009.
An Exxon tanker truck makes a refueling stop in Arlington, Va., Jan. 30, 2009.   (AP Photo)
Record oil prices last year filled Exxon's coffers, but the financial crisis has made it tough to keep those profits from evaporating in investments gone sour.
Record oil prices last year filled Exxon's coffers, but the financial crisis has made it tough to keep those profits from evaporating in investments gone sour.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
AdaptAndOvercome
Mar 26, 2009 12:36 PM CDT
They are securing their loot by creating more....did anyone see how much gas went up today. I'm in Texas---it was holding steady at 1.75 for the last month and this morning it went to 1.82 and by afternoon it was 1.89. Greedy bastards.
Robert_Dada
Mar 25, 2009 4:55 AM CDT
How lovely for them. Fuckers.

More Newser Stories

Pipeline Rupture Spills Crude Into Yellowstone River

Exxon Discovers Huge Oil Field in the Gulf

How Much Tax Does Big Oil Actually Pay?

Walmart Rules Fortune 500 List

Oil Giants (Minus BP) Create Spill Response System


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne