BP remains in the red despite year-end crude boost
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The group clawed its way back into the black in the fourth quarter, with profits of $72m against losses of $2.2 billion a year earlier.
That helped annual losses improve from the mammoth $5.2bn deficit posted in 2015, which was its worst result for at least 20 years.
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Hide AdOn an underlying basis, BP saw profits more than halve in 2016 to $2.59bn, compared with $5.91bn the previous year.
BP said oil prices remained “challenging” in 2016, with the average for Brent crude standing at $44 a barrel – the lowest for 12 years.
Recent higher prices, which have recovered above $50 a barrel, helped underlying replacement cost profits more than double to $400m in the fourth quarter, up from $196m a year earlier. But this was lower than City forecasts for about $560m.
The group said it expected to balance its books at an oil price of about $60 a barrel by the end of 2017 and hopes production to rise this year, although it cautioned over the impact of Opec’s decision to cut production.
Chief executive Bob Dudley said: “We have delivered solid results in tough conditions – and are well prepared for any volatility in oil pricing.”