Exxon profit misses expectations; sees $5.9 billion tax gain

Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N), the world's largest publicly-traded oil producer, posted a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Friday due to falling production and weakness in its chemical and refining operations, sending shares down 2.8 percent in premarket trading.The rare earnings miss from Exxon comes as the company tries to bolster reserves around the world while also cementing its position as one of the largest producers of oil and natural gas in the United States.Irving, Texas-based Exxon s