Aug 1 (Reuters) - U.S. refiner Tesoro Corp onThursday reported a lower quarterly profit after refinerymaintenance hurt production and rising crude oil prices sappedmargins.
Net income from continuing operations in the quarter was$238 million, or $1.72 per share, compared with $363 million, or$2.58 per share in the same quarter a year earlier.
Excluding special items and its discontinued Hawaiibusiness, the company earned $1.56 per share. Special itemsincluded a benefit of 24 cents a share for a pipeline settlementin California and costs of 8 cents a share related to itsacquisition of BP's Southern California refining,marketing and logistics business.