ENERGY

Exxon Trial Begins: Exxon Corp. went to trial in a 16-year-old suit that contends that the largest U.S. oil firm was involved in a price-fixing conspiracy with six of its rivals. The suit alleges that Exxon was part of a conspiracy to lower the price paid for oil from the 1.5-billion-barrel Wilmington field near Long Beach. Exxon, which denies the price-fixing charges, is the only remaining defendant in the suit. Chevron Corp., Texaco Inc., Mobil Corp. and Shell Oil Co. agreed in August to a joint settlement totaling $220 million. Unocal Corp. agreed to a settlement valued at $77 million in January and Atlantic Richfield Co. for $22.5 million in 1984.