CNOOC H1 Net Profit Rises 7.9%

China's CNOOC

posted a 7.9% rise in its first-half profit. CNOOC's net profit for the period surged to 34.38 billion yuan ($5.61 billion), from 31.87 billion yuan, in the year-ago period. However, analysts were expecting a profit of 30.87 billion yuan. For the first half, CNOOC also declared an interim dividend of HK$0.25 a share. CNOOC shares closed at $192.84 yesterday.