<div id="subtitle">Refiner Sunoco's 4Q profit falls as demand falls, margins shrink</div><div><p>Sunoco Inc. said its fourth-profit plummeted as it struggled with weak demand for energy products.</p><p>The Philadelphia refiner said Thursday it recorded net income of $26 million, or 22 cents per share, in October through December. That compares with a profit of $204 million, or $1.74 per share, a year earlier.</p><p>Revenue rose 4 percent to $8.97 billion from $8.64 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008.</p><p>The most recent results reflect one-time gains of $57 million. Excluding those, the company posted a net loss of $31 million, or 27 cents a share.</p><p>For the year, Sunoco reported a net loss of $329 million, or $2.81 per share. In 2008, it earned $776 million, or $6.63 a share.</p><p>Annual revenue fell to $31.3 billion from $51.07 billion.</p><p>The company expects the market for petroleum and chemical products to remain challenging because of the weak economy and excess supply.</p><p>It has forecast 2010 capital spending of about $840 million.</p><p>Shares of Sunoco closed down 3 cents to $25.64 in Friday's trading.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=68534738&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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