Last but not least: Exxon chops spending by 30{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f}

HOUSTON (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) on Tuesday throttled back a multi-year investment spree in shale, LNG and deep water oil production and will cut planned capital spending this year by $10 billion as the coronavirus pandemic saps energy demand and oil prices.

Oil companies are reversing 2020 spending and production increases by an average 20{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} as countries limit air travel, order businesses to close and tell residents to stay home. In a one-two punch to suppliers, crude prices are down nearly 60{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} this year and demand for fuels is falling sharply.

The largest U.S. oil producer, which last month pledged “significant” cuts to spending, set 2020 capital expenditure at $23 billion and could go lower if required, it said in a statement. Exxon previously expected to spend up to $33 billion and had spent $26 billion last year.

The U.S. oil major’s shares were up about 5{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} at $42.52 in premarket trading.

Exxon’s market value has fallen 42{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} this year as the oil-price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia has taken a toll on the energy sector. However, its stock has been a laggard for years, dropping 54{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} over the last five years compared with an 18{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} gain in the benchmark U.S. S&P 500 stock index.