BP pro! t rises despite hurricane damage

BP, Europe’s biggest oil company, said Thursday its pro t rose 16% as record energy prices more than compensated for losses at hurricane-damaged rigs and re neries. Third-quarter earnings rose to $ 4.41 billion, or 21 cents a share, from $ 3.79 billion, or 17 cents, a year earlier, excluding gains in value of inventories. BP is the rst of the largest oil companies to report pro ts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck.