Exxon's quarterly profit rises 6 percent

Exxon Mobil Corp, 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.