BG Group said its oil and gas production has hit record levels, which has helped to pare back the damage of the oil price falling by half since last summer.

The firm, which has agreed a £47 billion takeover from Royal Dutch Shell, said its half-year earnings before tax fell 60 per cent to $1.6 billion (£1 billion), which was ahead of market expectations.

Output in the second quarter of the year lifted 19 per cent to 703,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day boosted by strong performance in Australia and Brazil.

Chief executive Helge Lund said the business continued to deliver on its efficiency and improvement programmes.

Shares rose 13p, or 1.2 per cent, to 1092.5p.