Halliburton reported better-than-expected quarterly profit today as high energy prices drove global demand for its oilfield services.
The company also offered reassurance about the outlook for its North American business, which investors have been watching intently due to a slide in natural gas prices.
Halliburton said fourth-quarter income from continuing operations totalled $667 million, or 65 cents per share.
Revenue rose 8 per cent to $6 billion. A year earlier, the company earned $1.1 billion, or $1.03 per share, including a tax benefit of $540 million, or 51 cents per share.
KBR, which is about 80 per cent-owned by Halliburton, also posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter income from continuing operations on Friday.
But results were down from a year earlier as activity related to construction and military sites in Iraq was scaled back. KBR is the Pentagon's largest contractor in Iraq.
KBR said income from continuing operations fell to $43 million from $48 million.