London-based BP reported its underlying replacement cost profit, which excludes one-time items and fluctuations in the value of inventories, down from $3.3 billion in the previous quarter. It brought in $13.8 billion for all of last year, a huge drop from the $27.7 billion it earned in 2022, when Russia's war in Ukraine sent oil and natural gas prices surging. Energy prices have since fallen as a weak global economy holds back demand for fossil fuels to power cars, planes, factories and more. Despite the drop in annual earnings, BP kept its dividend steady and said it would buy back $1.75 billion in shares as well as commit to $3.5 billion in additional share buybacks for first half of this year. It's a pressure that the energy industry is facing, with companies like BP and Shell pledging to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

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Persons: Murray Auchincloss, ”, Auchincloss, Bernard Looney, Looney, Joseph Evans, ” Richard Hunter Organizations: —, BP, Shell, Exxon Mobil, Institute for Public Policy Research, “ Locations: Ukraine, London, Spain, Portugal