Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has reported a rise in profits owing partly to strong demand for energy which is keeping oil prices high.
Earnings for January to March were $7.66bn (£4.74bn), up 11% on the $6.93bn the firm made a year ago. Shell said asset sales this year were likely to total more than $4bn compared with its earlier estimate of $2bn-$3bn. Chief executive Peter Voser also warned of short-term swings in energy prices. He said: “Shell's first quarter 2012 earnings increased from year-ago levels, through a combination of improved operating performance, increased upstream volumes and strong oil prices. "Energy demand fundamentals are robust, but with near-term volatility in energy prices as a result of ec...
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