Royal Dutch Shell is set to unveil its highest annual profits for four years next week, but fourth-quarter figures are expected to take a hit from recent oil price falls.
Results are expected to reveal a 33 per cent surge in underlying earnings to 21 billion US dollars (£16bn) for 2018, up from 15.8bn US dollars (£12.1bn) in 2017.
This would mark its highest profits since 2014 and comes after Shell hailed one of its "strongest ever quarters" for the three months to September as higher oil prices drove earnings up 37%.
But fourth-quarter results may take the shine off the performance after oil prices went into reverse since reaching a heady high of nearly 87 US dollars (£66) a barrel in October.
Underlying earnings for the final three months of last year are expected to come in at 5.28bn US dollars, down from 4.3bn US dollars.
Having steadily rebounded since 2016 after a long and painful rout, the crude price rally finally ran out of steam last autumn amid fears of a slowdown in demand as global growth eases, combined with rising inventories.
The price of Brent crude ended the year lower than it did at the start - closing the year at 54 US dollars (£41) a barrel compared with 67 (£51) in January.
The Share Centre said: "The oil major has been reporting great numbers as average oil prices made steady progress since the lows of 2016.
"However, given the anticipation of higher supplies from shale and Iranian oil supplies not expecting to fall back as dramatically as previously expected, oil prices during the final quarter wobbled, which will no doubt hit Shell's numbers."
The only British rocket to launch a satellite into orbit is going on display in Scotland after almost 50 years languishing in the Australian Outback.
The Black Arrow programme completed four rockets between 1969 and 1971, with the third flight marking the first and only successful UK-led orbital launch.
A six-metre section of the projectile crash-landed in South Australia where it has lain for 48 years.
Space industry figures were expected to attend its unveiling in Midlothian today following a 10,000-mile journey back to the UK.
The rocket, which is being exhibited in a storage facility in Penicuik, was returned by Edinburgh space company Skyrora to be used for educational purposes.
Skyrora director Daniel Smith said: "With the UK Government's aim to make us a launch nation again, it seemed like the perfect time to bring Black Arrow back."
In July last year the UK Space Agency announced £2.5 million of funding for a proposed vertical launch spaceport in Sutherland.
A no-deal Brexit would be damaging to Scotland's economy and public finances, a Holyrood committee has warned.
In a unanimous, cross-party report, the Finance and Constitution Committee said the UK leaving the EU without a deal is not in Scotland's national interest.
The report warns Scotland's finances are exposed to volatility and risk through the operation of the fiscal framework - the agreement between the Scottish and UK governments which sets out how Scotland is funded.
Reliance on forecasts for the annual budget and "substantial movement" in these forecasts are highlighted.
The report notes these risks are "exacerbated" by Brexit uncertainty.
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