Total Profits Soar on Higher Oil, Refining

French oil company Total posted a 54 percent profit rise on Friday as higher oil and gas prices and strong refining margins lift industry earnings worldwide. Finnish refiner Neste Oil also reported improved profits after similarly strong performances from sector heavyweights Exxon Mobil and Shell on Thursday. Total said net income, excluding unrealized gains related to changes in the value of inventories, was 2.875 billion euros in the third quarter, boosted by gains from selling oil fields.

Stripping out one offs, the result was up 32 percent and in line with analysts' average forecasts. Neste said fatter refining margins lifted its operating profit, excluding inventory gains or losses, by 36 percent to 57 million euros ($79 million), in line with a mean forecast in a Reuters poll. The world's largest non government controlled oil company by market value, Dallas based ExxonMobil, reported a 55 percent jump in net income on Thursday, while industry No. 2, Royal Dutch Shell reported an 18 percent rise, which would have been higher but for non cash charges......Read the entire Reuters article.


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