LONDON, July 31 (Reuters) - BG Group's core earningsnearly halved in the second quarter after a huge hit frompersistently weak oil prices, though the company'[s resultsstill beat market expectations.
BG's core earnings dropped to $1.372 billion, the companysaid on Friday, down 48 percent from a year earlier but aboveanalysts' forecast of $1.328 billion, according to a consensusprovided by the company.
BG reported a 19 percent rise in oil and gas productionduring the quarter to 703,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day(boed) and increased its full-year output forecast to "the upperhalf" of its previous range of 650,000 to 690,000 boed.
BG, which has accepted a $70 billion takeover offer fromShell, maintained its dividend at 14.38 cents pershare. (Reporting by Ron Bousso; editing by David Clarke)