I think Exxon would probably have to sweeten the deal with some cash, but Exxon stock is an extremely good currency for Mobil shareholders to hold.

I would say we'll probably see $70 (a barrel) again before we see $50 or $55 even. When the dust settles, we'll see that while Rita did not match Katrina in terms of impact, it significantly exceeded what's been reported.

Speculators pushed the prices beyond even the most bullish estimates, because they exaggerated (supply shortage fears), but now I think we see the party's over.

The drop in prices correlates with unusually high temperatures in the Northeast.

If we don't have a particularly cold winter, we won't see prices rise dramatically.

The only option for these companies is to merge and seek yet more job cuts and savings.