Low oil price pushes BP to $485m loss

BP has sunk to a $485m (£334m) loss for the three months to March as low oil prices took their toll.

The loss, on the replacement cost measure, compared with a $2.1bn profit for the same period last year, but was lower than the $2.2bn loss for the three months to December.

The oil giant took a $917m charge for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, taking the total to $56.4bn.

It was still unable to estimate its liability for civil claims.

On an underlying basis, which strips out one-off costs, BP reported an adjusted profit of $532m despite expectations for a loss. However, this figure was sharply lower than the $2.58bn profit for the same period last year.

Its refining and trading division reported a profit of $1.8bn, offsetting a $747m loss in oil and gas production.

Brent crude averaged $34 a barrel in the quarter, compared with $44 in the last three months of 2015 and $54 in the first quarter last year.

Chief executive Bob Dudley said he expected global oil supply and demand to balance towards the end of the year, which could help push prices higher.

BP shareholders rejected a pay package of almost £14m for chief Bob Dudley earlier this month

"Operational performance is strong and our work to reset costs has considerable momentum and is delivering results," he said.

Earlier this month BP, faced a shareholder revolt when almost 60% voted against its remuneration report, which included a pay deal of $19.6m (£13.8m) for Mr Dudley.

Despite the slide in the oil price, BP held the quarterly dividend at 10 cents a share. Its shares closed up 4.3% to 375.9p.

Steve Clayton, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said BP could not afford to keep paying a dividend indefinitely while making a loss: "Ultimately there's only so far the company can travel down this road before it runs out of gas."

"It looks like BP is betting on a rapid return to significantly higher oil prices. If they duly appear, then BP will have protected its shareholders through the tough times. But if oil does not rebound, then BP will become progressively weaker in an environment where strength matters."

Spending cuts

In February, BP reported that annual profits had more than halved to $5.9bn following the collapse in oil prices.

The company cut spending three times in 2015 to $19bn and shed about 10% of its 80,000-strong workforce.

Spending this year should be about $17bn, but could be cut by up to $2bn if oil prices remain depressed.