PetroChina Q4 Profit Rises 21%

PetroChina Co PTR reported a 21% gain in its fourth-quarter net profit. PetroChina's quarterly net profit surged to 34.3 billion yuan ($5.5 billion), versus 28.4 billion yuan, in the year-earlier quarter. However, analysts were expecting a profit of 35.9 billion yuan. For 2013, PetroChina's net profit climbed to 129.6 billion yuan versus 115.3 billion yuan. PetroChina shares closed at $98.78 yesterday.