Total's stock fell 2.7% in early Paris trade to euro38.90

Total's stock fell 2.7% in early Paris trade to euro38.90 Chicago Trib July 31
The Paris-based oil company said production in the 2nd-Q average 2.18 barrels of oil a day, down 7.3% from 2.35M in 2008.Total blamed high maintenance, impact of higher prices & weak gas demand for the drop in production from the previous quarter. Over the rest of the year, it said it expects to benefit from ramped up production at its recently launched Akpo, Tahiti & Tyrihans fields, as well as the planned start up of a new liquified natural gas projects in Yemen & Qatar, & the Tombua Landana field in Angola. Total's adjusted net profit, its preferred earnings yardstick, fell 54% to euro1.72B in the 2nd-Q, down from euro3.72B a year earlier. Expressed in dollars to ease comparison with other int