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REFILE-Earnings for Big Oil backpedal as natgas costs topple

U.S. and European oil business reported weaker very first quarter results on Friday due to a sharp drop in natural gas prices compared with a year earlier.

In the U.S., Exxon Mobil missed Wall Street profits targets on larger-than-forecast drop in gas incomes and Chevron beat tempered expectations with better-than-expected U.S. oil production.

French oil significant TotalEnergies also somewhat beat experts projections as good refining margins partly offset a. high drop in profits from natural gas. CEO Patrick Pouyanne,. nevertheless, cautioned that the higher oil rates that have balanced out weak. natural gas earnings could cut into refining margins later on this. year.

Exxon's profit fell 28%, Chevron decreased 16% and. TotalEnergies was down 22% year-on-year, with the 2 U.S. oil. majors also taking a toll from weaker benefit from gasoline and. fuels.

Revenues at oil and gas companies are still pulling back from. record levels in 2022 that were enhanced by a rise in need. after the COVID-19 pandemic and then when prices increased after. Russia attacked Ukraine.

Henry Center futures, the criteria for U.S. gas, has. been trading listed below $1.70 per million British thermal system. ( mmBtu), and previously this year dropped to a 3-1/2- year low on. warm weather condition and oversupply.

Global benchmark Brent crude costs were mainly. flat versus a year earlier at $81.76 a barrel in the quarter.

In 2015's strong profits led Exxon, Chevron, Occidental. Petroleum to bid for rivals wishing to produce greater. oil and gas production.

Exxon posted an $8.5 billion revenue, its 2nd greatest for. the very first quarter in more than a years, while Chevron earned. $ 5.5 billion and TotalEnergies delivered $5.1 billion in. adjusted internet.

Share costs showed the revenue drops, with Exxon down. 3.6% and Chevron off 1% in midday New York trading. TotalEnergies was up 2.6% in Paris trading after reconfirming a. $ 2 billion share buyback.

Executives provided no brand-new assistance on their production. outlooks for coming quarters on teleconference, giving. financiers less factor to cheer.

In part, the 2 largest U.S. oil companies' outlook depends. on pending approvals for two bid deals.

Exxon intends to close its purchase of Leader Natural. Resources in the present quarter, it said. Chevron said. its deal for Hess is continuing, and is expected to. be put for a shareholder vote in late May.