Here are Today’s Smart Profits Notes for Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

• Royal Dutch Shell Plc (NYSE: RDS) is enduring a tough time at the hands of Nigerian militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). At 10:10 PM on Monday, the group decided to step up their drive for recognition when they destroyed a portion of the Bonny Light crude system pipeline with explosives. They have officially declared an “oil war” and claim that they will continue targeting installations in the region.
• In the U.S., Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) will contribute $5 million to the areas ravaged by Hurricane Ike. While Exxon does have interests of its own in the area, including a giant refinery in Baytown, along with other facilities up and down the Gulf Coast, its donation will go to communities by way of the American Red Cross, United Way, Salvation Army and a state relief fund.

Source: Today’s Smart Profits Notes Wednesday, September 17th, 2008