3 March Statoil Asa News

Statoil's first quarter 2010 net operating income was NOK 39.6 billion, an 11% increase compared to NOK 35.5 billion in the first quarter of 2009. The quarterly result was mainly affected by a 48% increase in liquids prices measured in NOK and a 35% decrease in gas prices. Adjusted earnings in the first quarter of 2010 were NOK 38.9 billion. The 8% increase in adjusted earnings from first quarter 2009 to first quarter 2010 was primarily caused by the increase in prices for liquids and was only partly offset by reduced gas prices, lower entitlement volumes and lower results from oil trading. Net income in the first quarter of 2010 was NOK 11.1 billion, compared to NOK 4.0 billion in the first quarter of 2009.