BP profits up 29 pct on oil prices

BP Plc, the world’s second-largest oil company by market capitalization, beat analysts’ forecasts with a 29 percent rise in first-quarter profits on Tuesday, boosted by high oil prices. BP said in a statement its replacement cost net profit, which excludes rises in the value of inventories, rose to $5.49 billion from $4.26 billion in the same period last year.