LONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Fourth quarter profits fromshrinking British oil company BP Plc beat analystsexpectations on Tuesday thanks in part to a record performancefrom its refining division as a trial in the U.S. over its 2010U.S. Gulf oil spill looms later in February.
BP, the western world's No. 3 oil company and the last ofthe big four to report quarterly earnings, said fourth quarternet profit, adjusted for non-operating items and accountingeffects, fell to $3.984 from $4.986 billion a year earlier,mainly as a result of tens of billions of dollars worth of assetsales to pay for its spill liabilities.
Analysts had expected a quarterly profit of $3.305 billion.
BP (BP.)