ENERGY

Exxon Barred from Ending Franchises Pending Appeal: A group of Southern California Exxon dealers won an injunction last week in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. According to the group’s attorney, Joseph M. Alioto, the ruling keeps Exxon Corp. from refusing to renew the dealers’ franchises and thus closing their stations, until the court decides the matter on appeal. The dealers have sued Exxon over the oil company’s policies since it announced earlier this year that it would withdraw from retail operations in the Southern California gasoline market.