(Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp <XOM.N>, the world's largest publicly traded oil company, on Friday reported a higher-than-expected 6 percent increase in quarterly profit, helped by its chemical and refining businesses.
The Irving, Texas company said profit in the fourth quarter was $9.95 billion, or $2.20 per share, compared with $9.4 billion, or $1.97 per share, in the same period a year earlier.
Analysts on average expected a profit of $2.00 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Oil and gas output fell 5.2 percent, Exxon said.
Shares of Exxon rose to $90.68 in premarket trading, from Thursday's New York Stock Exchange close of $89.97.
(Reporting By Anna Driver; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
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