Total beats quarterly forecasts despite low oil price, lifts payout
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ABERDEEN, Scotland (Reuters) - Total beat forecasts on Thursday by keeping net adjusted profit for the fourth quarter steady at $3.2 billion despite low oil prices and fulfilled a pledge to boost dividends, lifting the French energy major's shares.Analysts had forecasts net profit of about $2.7 billion (2.08 billion pounds).Total's shares rose about 3% before easing off their highs."This performance is better than that of our rivals in terms of resisting low oil prices," Chief Executive Patrick..