August 14, 2002

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, in preliminary report, says there is evidence that natural gas prices might have been manipulated during California energy crisis of 2000-01, helping to drive up power prices; also says there is evidence of possible manipulation of electricity prices by Enron, Avista and El Paso Electric; begins formal investigations to determine whether they broke federal electricity-trading rules; report contrasts with agency's approach at outset of California crisis two years ago, when it played down possibility of manipulation; report comes closer to endorsing view of many California officials that state's energy crisis resulted at least in part from manipulation of market by energy companies like Enron; if commission endorses findings, it could then increase size of refunds it might order energy companies to pay consumers in California for overcharging (M)

Ericsson says 30 billion kronor ($3.2 billion) it is raising in share sale will be enough to help it survive current slump in demand for telephone equipment; is selling new shares to existing investors at 3.80 kronor to pay back debt and pay for severance packages; chief executive Kurt Hellstroem comments; photo (S)

Liz Barry and Bill Wetzel sit on sidewalks around New York and ask people to talk to them; say they just believe in talking and like to listen to stories; passersby are intrigued and more than willing to engage in conversation; photo (M)

Amtrak suspends its new high-speed Acela, pride of struggling railroad's fleet, after finding cracks in part designed to keep locomotives from swaying; move pushes thousands of angry and frustrated passengers onto older, slower trains on Northeast Corridor; is another blow to railroad, which has suffered through two derailments since start of year and severe cash crunch that almost forced it to close; photos; graphs (M)

Article on Iliana de la Vega's updated Oaxacan cuisine, served at her El Naranjo restaurant in Oaxaca City, Mexico; photos; recipes (M)