The recent steps to increase the transparency of fiscal policy through the publication of the Fiscal Balance Program and the First Quarter Budget Report are very welcome. This greater transparency will help private businesses and investors better plan their investment and employment decisions.

Group results  Adjusted operating profit: €1.83 billion, up by 215% or €1.25 billion, vs first quarter of 2016  Adjusted net profit: €0.74 billion (up by €0.74 billion vs the first quarter of 2016)  Net profit: €0.97 billion  Strong cash generation: €1.93 billion, up by 41% vs the first quarter of 2016; €2.60 billion before changes in working capital at replacement cost, up by 76%  Capex: €2.83 billion (€2.42 billion on a pro-forma1 basis), in line with our strategy to bring cashgenerative projects on stream in 2017  Disposals agreed in the first quarter of 2017 of €2.9 billion, approximately 60% of the minimum target planned for the 2017-2020 four-year period  Net debt: €14.9 billion, in line with the end of 2016  Leverage at March 31, 2017: stable at 0.28

Net income attributable to Rosneft shareholders amounted to RUB 13 bln in 1Q 2017 (+8.3% vs adjusted net income in 1Q 2016) in view of significant negative effect of foreign exchange rates due to RUB appreciation.

TESCO reported a U.S. GAAP net loss of $13.7 million, or $(0.29) per share, in the first quarter of 2017. Adjusted net loss for the quarter was $13.4 million, or $(0.29) per share, excluding special items, consisting primarily of charges related to restructuring costs. This compares to a U.S. GAAP net loss of $20.1 million, or $(0.43) per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016, and a U.S. GAAP net loss of $56.8 million, or $(1.45) per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2016. Adjusted net loss in the fourth quarter of 2016 was $13.3 million, or $(0.28) per diluted share, and in the first quarter of 2016 was $17.9 million, or $(0.46) per diluted share.

Saudi Arabia’s conventional approach to market management is no longer working: crude has fallen back below $50 a barrel, US shale oil output is again on the rise and Saudi-led Opec, if anything, is worse off than when it agreed the supply deal back in November, having cut volumes for little upside on price.

In view of realized and expected labor market conditions and inflation, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3/4 to 1 percent. The stance of monetary policy remains accommodative, thereby supporting some further strengthening in labor market conditions and a sustained return to 2 percent inflation.

Statoil reports adjusted earnings of USD 3.3 billion and an IFRS net operating income of USD 4.3 billion in the first quarter of 2017. The IFRS net income was USD 1.1 billion.

Compared with the first quarter 2016, CCS earnings attributable to shareholders excluding identified items increased by $2.2 billion, mainly driven by higher contributions from Upstream and Chemicals, partly offset by higher net interest expense.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) reported first-quarter 2017 earnings of $0.8 billion, or $0.62 per share, compared with a first-quarter 2016 loss of $1.5 billion, or ($1.18) per share. Excluding special items, first-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings were a loss of $19 million, or ($0.02) per share, compared with a first-quarter 2016 adjusted loss of $1.2 billion, or ($0.95) per share. Special items for the current quarter were primarily driven by a financial tax accounting benefit related to the previously announced Canadian disposition, partially offset by a non-cash impairment in Alaska.

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that the goods and services deficit was $43.7 billion in March, down $0.1 billion from $43.8 billion in February, revised. March exports were $191.0 billion, $1.7 billion less than February exports. March imports were $234.7 billion, $1.7 billion less than February imports.

"Our year has started well. BP is focused on the disciplined delivery of our plans. First quarter earnings and cash flow were robust. We have shown continued operational momentum - it was another strong quarter for the Downstream and the first of our seven new Upstream major projects has started up, with a further three near completion. We expect these to drive a material improvement in operating cash flow from the second half."

Nabors Industries Ltd. reported first quarter 2017 operating revenue of $563 million, compared to operating revenue of $539 million in the prior quarter. Net income from continuing operations attributable to Nabors for the quarter was a loss of $149 million, or $0.52 per share, compared to a loss of $331 million, or $1.17 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2016. The first quarter results include $7.8 million in net after-tax charges, or $0.03 per share, representing premiums incurred in open market purchases of near-term debt.

Profit attributable to the owners of PJSC Gazprom for the year ended December 31, 2016 totaled RUB 951,637 million which is RUB 164,581 million, or 21 %, more than for the same period of the prior year.

Profit attributable to NOVATEK shareholders decreased by 38.7% to RR 71.0 billion (RR 23.54 per share), as compared to RR 115.9 billion (RR 38.40 per share) in the first quarter 2016. The amount of profit was significantly impacted by the foreign exchange effect (including at the joint ventures level), and its dynamics – by the effect of the disposals of interests in joint ventures. Net of these effects, our adjusted profit attributable to NOVATEK shareholders increased by 20.2% to RR 44.3 billion compared with the first quarter 2016.

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2017, according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2016, real GDP increased 2.1 percent.