(Updates with comment from analyst in the third paragraph).
April 29 (Bloomberg) - oil producer Total SA second in Europe, reported first-quarter profit climbed 35 percent as higher crude oil prices offset, a decline partly due to the conflict in Libya.Profit excluding changes in stocks and the value of a stake in Sanofi-Aventis SA increased to 3.1 billion euros (4.6 billion) ($) of 2.3 billion euros a year earlier, the Paris-based company said today. That beat the average of 3 billion euro in a survey of analysts Bloomberg. Net income reached 51 per cent to 3.95 billion euros. "It is a solid set of results, Bertrand Hodee, analyst of capital markets of Kepler that shares to"hold"rate, said in an e-mail. "Total is clearly the right to regain the confidence of investors in medium term but delivery is too far".Total joins other European producers of energy in the reports of the higher earnings on the back of rising oil prices. Royal Dutch Shell Plc said yesterday that profit rose 30 percent, as the price of Brent average of $105.52 US per barrel in the first quarter, 36 per cent more than a year earlier. Total announced yesterday an agreement to buy as much as 60 percent of the second largest manufacturer of solar panel U.S. SunPower Corp. of $ 1.38 billion.Company's production output in the first quarter DropThe fell 2% to 2.37 million barrels oil equivalent per day from a year earlier. Production was interrupted in Libya during the period and has also declined due to price effects.Shares increased by 0.2% to 43.09 euros at 10: 06 pm, in Paris. The stock is up to 8.6% this year.The company said in February that it expected output to be little changed this year due to a lull in the startups and is committed to exploring more aggressively the oil and gas. The company reversed a decline that touched a nine year low in 2009 by launching new fields and liquefied natural gas projects and has forecast growth of the average production of 2% per year until 2015. "The French company expects to start production in the area of the Pazflor in Angola in the fourth quarter".Total is actively managing its portfolio, it mainly moving toward upstream, "Director General Christophe de Margerie said in the statement of income." This includes more emphasis on "new energies" and sales of assets should be approximately $ 10 billion this year.Agreement of the SunPowerTotal to buy a stake in SunPower strengthens its operations in renewable energy. This follows an agreement in February to sell a 49% Spanish refiner Cia involvement. Espanola de Petroleos SA of 3.7 billion euros. Total is in talks to sell its Lindsey refinery to the United Kingdom after the decision of a French refinery last year.The company is working on five projects of exploration and production with Russian partners and holds approximately 12 per cent in OAO Novatek, as energy companies look in Russia to increase reserves. Total has agreed to buy the game for about $ 4 billion at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.In March last month, it purchased a stake in Ugandan exploration blocks with China National Offshore Oil Corp. of Tullow Oil Plcpaving the way for the development of the basin of Lake Albert, after the transaction was accepted by a tax dispute. "European refining margins decreased from the first quarter, mainly reflecting the impact of the strong increase in the price of oil,"said today Total.Total said above, that benefit crude turning into fuels such as gasoline and diesel in the Northwest of Europe dropped 17 percent in the first quarter of the previous year earlier this month. Margins fell as European refiners were unable to compete with cheaper fuels of their American counterparts.-with the help of Stephen Cunningham in London, editors in Chief: Jonas Bergman, Randall Hackley
To contact the reporter on this story: Tara Patel in Paris at the tpatel2@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Will Kennedy to the wkennedy3@bloomberg.net
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