Eni Q4 Profit Rises 24%

Eni SpA E, Italy's largest oil company, said its fourth-quarter adjusted jumped 24% to $2.32 billion thanks to increased demand and higher oil prices, generally the same reasons all of the world's oil majors have been citing for their respective increases in fourth-quarter profits. Eni added that its 2010 dividend will remain in line with what the company paid in 2009 at about 74 cents a share. Eni, which has an above-average exposure to the gas market, said it expects gas sales this year to be at least in line with those of 2010, Reuters reported.