OIL GIANT HALLIBURTON – RAKES IN MASSIVE FIRST QUARTER PROFITS!

April 18 (Reuters) – Halliburton Co, the world’s second-largest oilfield services company, on Wednesday reported higher quarterly profits as North American revenue reached a record high, lifting its shares in premarket trading.

First-quarter profit rose to $627 million, or 68 cents per share, from $511 million, or 56 cents per share, a year ago.

Excluding a $300 million charge for estimated losses from the BP Plc Gulf of Mexico oil spill two years ago, Halliburton’s earnings per share of 89 cents topped the average analyst estimate of 85 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue rose to $6.9 billion.

Halliburton’s shares rose 1.7 percent in premarket trading to $33.20.