Williams Cos. cuts dividend

Williams Cos. late Monday said it will cut its dividend to 20 cents a share in the third quarter, from 64 cents a share. The energy company reported a second-quarter loss of $405 million, or 54 cents a share, compared with a net income of $114 million, or 15 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Adjusted for one-time items, the company reported earnings of 19 cents a share in the quarter. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected Williams Cos. to report adjusted earnings of 22 cents a share. Williams Cos shares rose 4% in the after-hours session after ending the regular trading day down 6%.

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