LONDON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - BP on Tuesday reported anannual loss of $6.5 billion in 2015, its worst in at least 20years as the British oil and gas company struggled with a sharpdownturn in the oil market.
Underlying replacement cost profit, BP's definition of netincome, for the fourth quarter of 2015 came in at $196 million,significantly lower than analysts' expectations of $730 million.
Fourth-quarter impairments were $2.6 billion due to low oilprices.
"We are continuing to move rapidly to adapt and rebalance BPfor the changing environment," said BP Chief Executive BobDudley in a statement.
(Reporting by Ron Bousso; editing by Jason Neely)