LONDON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell's third quarter profits undershot analysts' forecasts on Thursdayas a weak refining environment and production losses due todisruption in Nigeria weighed on its performance.
Third quarter earnings excluding identified items and on acurrent cost of supply basis came in at $4.5 bln compared with aforecast range of between $4.9 and $5.1 bln and down from $6.6billion a year ago.
CEO Peter Voser, who steps down at the end of the year, saidactions taken this year "underline our commitment to shareholderreturns".