BP today racked up an annual profit of $27.6 billion (£23 billion), more than double the previous year’s haul after a surge in oil and gas prices.
The performance, which included a fourth quarter profit of $4.8 billion (£4 billion), comes after rival Shell reported an annual surplus of almost $40 billion (£33.2 billion).
Meanwhile, figures from mortgage lender Halifax today showed stability in the UK house market after the average price remained largely unchanged in January at £281,684.