ALSO. . .

* Seven of the biggest U.S. energy trading companies, including Williams Cos. and a unit of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group, have agreed to create an online trading site called TradeSpark. TradeSpark is expected to start trading natural gas, electricity, coal, weather derivatives and emission credits Oct. 2, said a spokesman for ESpeed, an operator of electronic marketplaces that will also be a partner in TradeSpark. ESpeed, controlled by the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, will run the New York-based exchange.