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Oil giant Shell in profit warning Oil giant Shell in profit warning
(35 minutes later)
Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has issued a profit warning after it made less money than expected in the final quarter of 2013.Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has issued a profit warning after it made less money than expected in the final quarter of 2013.
"Fourth quarter 2013 figures... are expected to be significantly lower than recent levels of profitability," the company said in a statement. "Fourth-quarter 2013 figures... are expected to be significantly lower than recent levels of profitability," the company said in a statement.
It now expects profits for the quarter to be about $2.2bn (£1.3bn) and profits for 2013 as a whole to be $16.8bn.It now expects profits for the quarter to be about $2.2bn (£1.3bn) and profits for 2013 as a whole to be $16.8bn.
That is down from profits of $27.2bn recorded in 2012.That is down from profits of $27.2bn recorded in 2012.
"Our 2013 performance was not what I expect from Shell," Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden said in a statement.
"Our focus will be on improving Shell's financial results, achieving better capital efficiency and on continuing to strengthen our operational performance and project delivery."
Shell said its profits in the fourth quarter were hurt by a range of factors, including higher exploration costs, security problems in oil-rich Nigeria, and maintenance work that hit oil and gas production.
It said the weakening of the Australian dollar also had an effect.
Expected profits of $2.2bn for the quarter include impairments of $700m. When these are discounted, the expected profits are $2.9bn.