How European oil giants are profiting from slump

London

EUROPE'S largest oil companies are gaining support from an unlikely source as they confront the industry's worst slump since the financial crisis: lower oil prices.

Although better known for their oil fields, refineries, and petrol stations, BP, Royal Dutch Shell and Total are also the world's biggest oil traders, handling enough crude and refined products every day to meet the consumption of Japan, India, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.