Business & Finance

Shell first-quarter net profits up 60pc to $8.78bn

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Net profit rose to $8.78 billion (around six billion euros), up from $5.48 billion a year earlier, the company said in a statement. Revenues rose 28 percent to $110 billion.

"Our first quarter 2011 earnings have risen from year-ago levels, driven by higher industry margins and our own operating performance," chief executive Peter Voser said in a statement.

"We continue to make good progress in implementing our strategy; improving near-term performance, delivering a new wave of production growth, and maturing the next generation of growth options for shareholders."

The company's results were helped by the steep rise in oil in recent months.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011