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REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Shell PLC FollowLONDON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) on Thursday reported third-quarter earnings of $6.2 billion, in line with expectations, on higher refining margins and strong liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading. The company announced share buybacks of $3.5 billion over the next three months, up from $2.7 billion in the previous three months. Shell reported adjusted earnings of $6.22 billion, broadly in line with a company-provided analysts' forecast of $6.25 billion. "Shell delivered another quarter of strong operational and financial performance, capturing opportunities in volatile commodity markets. Production in the Upstream division was up 3% from the previous quarter to 1.75 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed).

Persons: Chris Helgren, Shell, Wael Sawan, Ron Bousso, Jason Neely Organizations: Shell, REUTERS, Companies Shell, Integrated Gas, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Qatar

"BP reported weak numbers this morning...However, notably, BP has reported exceptional gas trading results on several occasions in the last couple of years, including last quarter," said RBC analyst Biraj Borkhataria. In the downstream, customers & products reported $2.1 bln vs consensus $2.4 bln, despite being supported by very strong oil trading results, suggesting weaker refining margin capture in the third quarter." That was up from the $2.6 billion profit the company reported in the prior three months due to higher oil and gas production, strong refining margins, lower refinery maintenance and "a very strong oil trading result", but natural gas marketing and trading were weak. BP expects capital expenditure of $16 billion this year, the lower end of its indicated range of $16-$18 billion. Rivals Chevron (CVX.N) and Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) last week posted sharp year-on-year drops in third quarter profit as energy prices cooled.

Persons: Norway's, Biraj Borkhataria, Murray Auchincloss, Bernard Looney, Ron Bousso, Louise Heavens, Jason Neely Organizations: windfarm, BP, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Rivals Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Thomson, & $ Locations: U.S, British, New York

SummaryCompanies BP hikes dividend by 10%Will repurchase $1.5 billion of sharesWeak refining, oil trading and high maintenance weighLONDON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - BP's (BP.L) second-quarter profit slumped 70% from a year earlier to $2.6 billion, missing forecasts, as refining margins and oil trading income fell, but still allowing the energy giant to boost its dividend by 10%. BP's underlying replacement cost profit, its definition of net income, missed expectations of $3.5 billion in a company-provided survey of analysts. It fell from $8.5 billion a year earlier and from $5 billion in the first quarter. BP's gearing, or debt-to-capital ratio, stood at 21.7% in the second quarter, compared with 19.6% in the first quarter and 21.9% a year earlier. For the third quarter, BP expects oil prices to be supported by OPEC supply cuts alongside above-historical-average refining margins helped by lower inventories and U.S. demand.

Persons: Bernard Looney, Looney, Biraj Borkhataria, Ron Bousso, Jason Neely Organizations: Rivals Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, Reuters, Reuters Graphics Reuters, RBC, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Germany

The earnings, which missed forecasts, follow bumper earnings in 2022 after energy prices surged in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but were in line with its second-quarter performance two years ago. In June, Shell announced it would buy back at least $5 billion in shares in the second half of the year. Shell shares were down 1.7% by 0730 GMT, compared with a 1% decline for the broader European energy index (.SXEP). Reuters GraphicsWEAKER QUARTERThe lower results mainly reflected lower liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading results, lower oil and gas prices, lower refining margins, and lower sales volumes, compared with the previous quarter, Shell said. Oil and gas prices soared last year in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine but energy prices have dropped sharply this year as fears of shortages have eased.

Persons: Shell, Wael Sawan, Sawan, Jefferies, Giacomo Romeo, TotalEnergies, Norway's, Ron Bousso, Christina Fincher, Jason Neely Organizations: Shell, Reuters Graphics, Benchmark Brent, Thomson Locations: Ukraine

But OPEC ministers and executives from oil companies told a two-day conference in Vienna governments needed to turn their attention from supply to demand. But record profits from oil and gas last year and relatively low returns from renewable energy prompted some investors to demand companies renew their focus on oil and gas to raise profits. DEMAND HITS RECORDMeanwhile, oil demand has reached new peaks of above 102 million barrels per day this year, recovering from a dip during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is expected to rise further, driven by strong demand from Asia and for petrochemical production, oil executives and analysts said. The oil industry has long said lower investment in oil and gas in the absence of a reduction in oil demand will only lead to higher prices.

Persons: Bernard Looney, Wael Sawan, Abu, Sultan al Jaber, Patrick Pouyanne, Jean Paul Prates, Prates, Amin Nasser, Dmitry Zhdannikov, Barbara Lewis Organizations: BP, of, Petroleum, Reuters, Bloomberg, Wall Street, Companies, Shell, BBC, Investments, Rystad Energy, Petrobras, PETR4, Saudi Aramco, Thomson Locations: Vienna, VIENNA, Ukraine, Asia, Abu Dhabi

SummarySummary Companies Shell to hold oil output steadyCompany to grow gas and LNG businessCapital spending reduced for 2024-25LONDON, June 14 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) will ramp up its dividend and share buybacks while keeping oil output steady into 2030, it said on Wednesday, as CEO Wael Sawan moved to regain investor confidence that wavered over its energy transition plan. Shell shares were up 1.5% at 1204 GMT, against a 1% rise for an index of European oil and gas companies (.SXEP). Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsOIL STEADYShell scrapped its previous target to cut oil output by 20% by 2030 after largely reaching the goal. It currently has a target to cut its 2030 emissions intensity, including from the combustion of the fuels it sells, by 20%. Shell also faces a Dutch court ruling ordering the company to drastically cut emissions.

Persons: Wael Sawan, Shell, Sawan, Biraj Borkhataria, Thilo, Bernard Looney, Ron Bousso, David Goodman, Jan Harvey Organizations: Shell, RBC, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Royal, REUTERS, BP, Lebanese, Thomson Locations: New York, Wesseling, Cologne, Germany, Bukom, Jurong, Singapore, Paris

The plan is the linchpin of Sawan's effort to boost Shell's share performance relative to its U.S. peers, which has suffered despite a record $40 billion profit last year. Its shares closed up 0.4%, against a flat index of European oil and gas companies (.SXEP) on Wednesday. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsOIL STEADYShell scrapped its previous target to cut oil output by 20% by 2030 after largely reaching the goal. It currently has a target to cut its 2030 emissions intensity, including from the combustion of the fuels it sells, by 20%. Shell also faces a Dutch court ruling ordering the company to drastically cut emissions.

Persons: Wael Sawan, Sawan, Biraj Borkhataria, Thilo, Shell, Bernard Looney, Ron Bousso, Jan Harvey, Alexander Smith, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Shell, British, RBC, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Royal, REUTERS, BP, Lebanese, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New York, Wesseling, Cologne, Germany, Bukom, Jurong, Singapore, Paris

SummarySummary Companies Shell to hold oil output steadyCompany to grow gas and LNG businessCapital spending reduced for 2024-25LONDON, June 14 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) will ramp up its dividend and share buybacks while keeping oil output steady into 2030 as part of CEO Wael Sawan's efforts to regain investor confidence that wavered over its energy transition plan. Reuters GraphicsOIL STEADYShell scrapped its previous target to cut oil output by 20% by 2030 after largely reaching the goal. Sawan, a 48-year-old Canadian-Lebanese national who previously headed Shell's oil, gas and renewables divisions, has in recent months scrapped several projects, including in offshore wind, hydrogen and biofuels, due to projections of weak returns. It currently has a target to cut its 2030 emissions intensity, including from the combustion of the fuels it sells, by 20%. Shell also faces a Dutch court ruling ordering the company to drastically cut emissions.

Persons: Wael Sawan's, Shell, Sawan, Ron Bousso, David Goodman, Jan Harvey Organizations: Shell, Reuters, Lebanese, Thomson Locations: New York, Bukom, Jurong, Singapore, Paris

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) will likely face one of its most acrimonious annual meetings next week as it struggles to balance investor pressure to capture profits from oil and gas and a vocal minority saying it must move faster to tackle climate change. Big Oil firms posted record profits last year amid soaring energy prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That resolution echoes a ruling by a Dutch court telling Shell to adjust its climate targets, which Shell has appealed. It also said it was pleased that proxy advisers ISS and Glass Lewis had recommended votes against the Follow This resolution. The measures, however, did not prevent climate activist participants from heckling and disrupting proceedings before being escorted out, some carried by security staff.

Shell shares were up 0.8% by 1242 GMT. "In Q1, Shell delivered strong results and robust operational performance, against a backdrop of ongoing volatility," Chief Executive Officer Wael Sawan said in a statement. Sawan, who took the helm in January, told reporters he was focused on narrowing a wide gap in the share performance of Shell and its European peers against their U.S. rivals. Lower natural gas prices in the quarter weighed on Shell's giant integrated gas business, with profits slumping 18% to $4.9 billion. Shell showed "strong operational performance in the quarter across all divisions with oil and gas trading playing a key role," Jefferies analyst Giacomo Romeo said in a note.

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationSummarySummary Companies Shell maintains dividend unchangedAnnounces $4 bln in share buybacksLONDON, May 4 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) on Thursday posted first-quarter net profit of $9.65 billion, topping analysts' forecasts, as strong earnings from fuel trading and higher liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales offset cooling energy prices. Lower natural gas prices in the quarter weighed on Shell's giant integrated gas business, with profits slumping 18% to $4.9 billion. Shell shares were up 2% by 0830 GMT. Reuters GraphicsPROFITS BEATShell reported adjusted earnings of $9.65 billion in the first quarter, exceeding a company-provided analyst forecast of $8 billion. That compared with earnings of $9.1 billion a year earlier and $9.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, when Shell reported a record annual profit of $40 billion.

[1/2] Shell logo and stock graph are seen through a magnifier displayed in this illustration taken September 4, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationSummarySummary Companies Shell maintains dividend unchangedAnnounces $4 bln in share buybacksLONDON, May 4 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) on Thursday posted first-quarter net profit of $9.65 billion, topping analysts' forecasts, as strong earnings from fuel trading offset cooling oil and gas prices. Shell reported adjusted earnings of $9.65 billion in the first quarter, exceeding a company-provided analyst forecast of $8 billion. That compared with earnings of $9.1 billion a year earlier and $9.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, when Shell reported a record annual profit of $40 billion. Lower natural gas prices in the quarter weighed on Shell's giant integrated gas business, with profits slumping 18% on the quarter to $4.9 billion.

SummarySummary Companies Shell, Equinor shares outperform sector indexRivals BP, Chevron, Exxon also beat expectationsOil and gas prices slumped in first quarterShell shares up 2.1%, Equinor up 2.7%LONDON/OSLO, May 4 (Reuters) - Energy giants Shell (SHEL.L) and Equinor (EQNR.OL) reported higher-than-expected first-quarter profits on Thursday, using the heft of their trading desks to offset lower oil and gas prices. The stronger-than-expected profits from the two companies follow forecast beating results from rivals Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), Chevron and BP over the past week. Shell's shares were up around 2.1% in early trading and Equinor shares rose around 2.7%, outperforming a European index of oil and gas companies (.SXEP) which was up around 1%. Benchmark Brent crude oil prices averaged $81 per barrel in the first three months of the year, down 16% from a year earlier and 7% from the fourth-quarter. Lower natural gas prices also weighed on Shell's giant integrated gas business, with profits slumping 18% on the quarter.

First-quarter underlying replacement cost profit, the company's definition of net income, reached $4.96 billion, up from $4.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022 and above expectations of $4.3 billion in a company-provided survey of analysts. The profit reflects "an exceptional gas marketing and trading result, a lower level of refinery turnaround activity and a very strong oil trading result", BP said, noting the partial offset from lower oil and gas prices and refining margins. BP had reported a $6.25 billion profit in the first quarter of 2022. Benchmark Brent crude oil prices averaged $81 per barrel in the first three months of the year, down 16% from a year earlier and 7% from the fourth-quarter. BP's profit hit a record $28 billion in 2022 on soaring energy prices and market volatility which benefited its large trading business.

SummarySummary Companies Profit lifted by strong tradingBP to purchase $1.75 bln of sharesLONDON, May 2 (Reuters) - BP (BP.L) made a $5 billion profit in the first quarter of 2023, up from the previous three months on the back of strong oil and gas trading as the company pared back a share buyback programme. The profit reflects "an exceptional gas marketing and trading result, a lower level of refinery turnaround activity and a very strong oil trading result", BP said, noting the partial offset from lower oil and gas prices and refining margins. Benchmark Brent crude oil prices averaged $81 per barrel in the first three months of the year, down 16% from a year earlier and 7% from the fourth-quarter. BP's profit hit a record $28 billion in 2022 on soaring energy prices and market volatility which benefited its large trading business. The company had said in February it would repurchase $2.75 billion worth of shares over the next three months after buying $11.7 billion in 2022.

Last month he applied the brakes, slowing BP's planned cuts in oil and gas and scaling back planned renewables spending in the wake of the war in Ukraine. The oil major isn't backing away from renewables though, its green chief Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath stresses, it's simply changing the terms of the relationship. "I'm (now) just reviewing the onshore renewables part - so the onshore wind and solar part." BP's head of renewables and gas didn't elaborate on the nature of the latest review. The green stakes are high, though, given solar alone comprises more than half of BP's 43-gigawatt renewables project pipeline.

As a result, BP reduced its ambitions to cut emissions from fuels sold to customers to 20-30% by 2030, from 35-40%. BP's $4.8 billion fourth-quarter underlying replacement cost profit, its definition of net income, narrowly missed a $5 billion company-provided analyst forecast. The results were impacted by weaker gas trading activity after an "exceptional" third quarter, higher refinery maintenance and lower oil and gas prices. But for the year, BP's $27.6 billion profit exceeded its 2008 record of $26 billion despite a $25 billion writedown of its Russian assets. BP, whose trading operations further boost renewables returns, maintained plans to have 50 gigawatts (GW) of renewable projects under development and 10 GW operating by 2030.

The bumper earnings have prompted new calls to further tax the sector as households struggle to pay their energy bills. In a strategy update, BP said it will increase annual spending by $1 billion for both renewables and oil and gas with a sharper focus on developing low-carbon biofuels and hydrogen. That compared with $4 billion a year earlier and $8.2 billion in the third quarter of 2022. The results were impacted by weaker gas trading activity after an "exceptional" third quarter, higher refinery maintenance and lower oil and gas prices. But for the year, BP's $27.6 billion profit exceeded its previous record of $26 billion in 2008.

Companies Bp Plc FollowLONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - BP (BP.L) reported on Tuesday a record profit of $28 billion in 2022, lifted by a surge in energy prices since Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the company increased its dividend by 10% in a sign of confidence in the market's continued strength. BP's fourth-quarter underlying replacement cost profit, the company's definition of net income, reached $4.8 billion, compared with forecasts of a $5 billion profit in a company-provided survey of analysts. That compared with $4 billion a year earlier and $8.2 billion in the third quarter of 2022. BP boosted its dividend by 10% to 6.006 cents per share. It halved its dividend to 5.25 cents in July 2020 for the first time in a decade in the wake of the pandemic.

REUTERS/Thilo SchmuelgenSummarySummary Companies Fourth-quarter profit of $10 bln beats estimatesShell to repurchase $4 bln in sharesLONDON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) delivered a record $40 billion profit in 2022, the energy giant said on Thursday, capping a tumultuous year in which a surge in energy prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine allowed it to hand shareholders unprecedented returns. Shell also posted record fourth-quarter profit of $9.8 billion on the back of a strong recovery in earnings from liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading, beating analyst forecasts for an $8 billion profit. Annual profit reached $39.9 billion, more than doubling from a year earlier and far exceeding the previous record of $31 billion in 2008. Shell said its capital expenditure in 2023 will reach $23 billion to $27 billion, in line with previous guidance. The surge in revenue helped Shell sharply reduce its debt to $44.8 billion at the end of 2022 from $52.6 billion a year earlier.

LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - British finance minister Jeremy Hunt will meet leaders of North Sea oil and gas producers on Friday to discuss the government's windfall tax, three industry sources told Reuters on Wednesday. The government said the levy would raise funds to help people struggling with increased living costs, largely driven by energy prices that surged after energy exporter Russia invaded Ukraine in February. A Treasury source confirmed Hunt would meet oil and gas executives this week. Benchmark Brent oil prices traded below $80 a barrel, the lowest since January and far below a spike well above $100 shortly after the Ukraine war began. Natural gas prices remain above their historical average .

PRICE FLOORNeither climate campaigners nor the industry are happy with the new windfall tax. Benchmark Brent oil prices are trading above $80 a barrel, far below a spike well above $100 shortly after the Ukraine war began. Jacques Tohme, director and founder of Tailwind, a North Sea producer, said he did not object to a higher tax but a lack of stable rules created the risk of "flight of investment" from the North Sea. "We're happy to pay higher tax, but we need a floor of $75 to $100 a barrel above which a true windfall tax can be applied," Tohme said. Companies including Shell (SHEL.L) and Equinor have already said they will review their North Sea investments.

BP said it expects to pay around $2.5 billion in taxes for its British North Sea business this year, including $800 million in a windfall tax. BP, which increased its dividend by 10% in the quarter, will buy back $2.5 billion of shares after repurchasing $7.6 billion so far this year. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsGAS TRADINGBP's third-quarter underlying replacement cost profit of $8.15 billion, the company's definition of net income, compared with forecasts of a $6 billion profit in a company-provided survey of analysts. BP made a profit of $3.3 billion a year earlier and a 14-year high profit of $8.45 billion in the second quarter of 2022. Refining margins are also expected to remain high due to sanctions on Russian crude oil and refined products, BP said.

BP said it expects to pay around $2.5 billion in taxes for its British North Sea business this year, including $800 million in a windfall tax. BP, which increased its dividend by 10% in the quarter, will buy back $2.5 billion of shares after repurchasing $7.6 billion so far this year. GAS TRADINGBP's third-quarter underlying replacement cost profit of $8.15 billion, the company's definition of net income, compared with forecasts of a $6 billion profit in a company-provided survey of analysts. Earning from the gas and low energy division more than doubled from the second quarter. BP made a profit of $3.3 billion a year earlier and a 14-year high profit of $8.45 billion in the second quarter of 2022.

SummarySummary Companies Shell to boost dividend by 15%Announces plans to buy further $4 bln in sharesProfit hit by weak LNG trading and refiningLONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) on Thursday posted a third-quarter profit of $9.45 billion, easing from the previous quarter's record high due to weaker refining and gas trading, as it announced plans to sharply boost its dividend by year end when its CEO departs. Shell also extended its share repurchasing programme, announcing plans to buy $4 billion of stock over the next three months after completing $6 billion in the previous quarter. With a profit of $30.5 billion so far this year, Shell is well on track to exceed its record annual profit in 2008 of $31 billion. Its gas trading business was hit this quarter by "supply constraints, coupled with substantial differences between paper and physical realisations in a volatile and dislocated market." Shell said it would stick to its plans to spend $23-$27 billion this year.

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