Eni SPA reported a first-quarter consolidated adjusted operating profit of €1.57 billion, down 55% from first-quarter 2014. The company says the decline was driven by lower crude oil prices, and only partly offset by a better performance recorded in upstream activity and in all other business segments.

National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE: NOV) reported that for its first quarter ended March 31, 2015, it earned net income of $310 million, or $0.76 per fully diluted share, compared to fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014 net income of $595 million, or $1.39 per fully diluted share. Excluding other items of $122 million in pre-tax charges related to an early retirement program, $9 million of Venezuela asset write-down, and $69 million of nonrecurring foreign tax exposure, net income was $466million, or $1.14 per fully diluted share, down 33 percent from the fourth quarter of 2014, and down 12 percent from the first quarter of 2014, excluding other items from all periods.

BP suffered a sharp slide in first-quarter profits, hit by the plunge in crude prices that has battered revenues across the oil industry.

Despite challenging oil and gas prices in the quarter, Statoil (OSE:STL, NYSE:STO) delivered Adjusted earnings of NOK 22.9 billion and NOK 7.0 billion after tax. Statoil reports a negative IFRS Net income of NOK 35.4 billion due to impairments.

Brent crude futures have risen 45 percent. If that is sustained or even increased throughout this year, inflation next year could rise significantly, posing questions for policymakers largely committed to ultra-loose policy.

Fair and stable oil prices will benefit producers and consumers, allowing global supply and demand to grow at a steady pace, Saudi Arabia's Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said on Tuesday.

Two of the world’s leading energy companies weathered plunging oil prices in the first quarter of this year by making increased profits from refining and trading, suggesting large groups are better placed than smaller rivals to cope with the slump.

China National Petroleum Corp and Sinopec, China’s top two state-owned oil companies, have denied they are considering merging to form a giant monopoly after rumours prompted both companies’ Hong Kong-listed shares to jump on Monday.

U.S. Rig Count is down 22 rigs from last week to 932, with oil rigs down 31 to 703, gas rigs up 8 to 225, and miscellaneous rigs up 1 to 4.

If there was one thing guaranteed to follow low oil prices (other than the loss of thousands of jobs) it was mergers and acquisitions. This has certainly rung true as companies consolidate their portfolios or use their war chests to snap up competitors while prices are down. The recent deal between Royal Dutch Shell and BG Group has many expecting a renewed wave of major business decisions. The buzz has fueled rumors that BP Plc will be susceptible to a takeover by fellow oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp.