The Numbers: Profits that rise and fall with oil costs.

Major power firms have been reporting decreased income, largely as a result of the value of oil has fallen since final 12 months. In the second quarter, Aramco mentioned, the typical oil value was slightly below $79 a barrel, down from about $113 in the identical interval a 12 months in the past. Oil costs jumped after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and have slowly eased since then.

Despite the decreased earnings, Aramco reported a 12 p.c enhance in capital expenditures, to $10.5 billion, a class of spending that displays funding in its enterprise.

Notable: An even bigger payout for shareholders.

Aramco made some news in its earnings announcement by promising to pay extra to shareholders by way of a brand new dividend program. In addition to its base quarterly dividend of $19.5 billion, up 4 p.c from a 12 months earlier, the corporate mentioned it might pay a further dividend linked to the corporate’s efficiency. That will quantity to simply below $10 billion within the third quarter, with payouts persevering with over the following 5 quarters.

Aramco is owned primarily by the Saudi authorities, and the corporate’s earnings present a serious supply of its financing.

Analysts at RBC Capital Markets, noting that Aramco was sitting on lots of money, described the added dividend as “the next logical step.”

Quotable: Investments crucial for “energy security.”

Amin H. Nasser, Aramco’s chief govt, careworn in a press release the significance of additional investments in power — fossil fuels in addition to climate-friendly alternate options like “blue” ammonia, which is made with renewable energy.

“Our mid- to long-term view remains unchanged. With a recovery anticipated in the broader global economy, along with increased activity in the aviation sector, ongoing investments in energy projects will be necessary to safeguard energy security,” Mr. Nasser mentioned. “At the same time, we remain optimistic about the potential for new technologies to reduce our operational emissions, and our recent blue ammonia shipments to Asia highlight the growing market interest in the potential of alternative, lower-carbon energy solutions.”

What’s Next: Oil costs look like on an upswing.

After oil costs briefly exceeded $120 a barrel after the beginning of the battle in Ukraine, they’ve usually declined. Although many Western nations have banned imports of Russian oil, India and China are now major importers of the crude, and this commerce has helped stabilize markets.

But costs have been climbing notably since June. On Monday, Brent crude, the worldwide benchmark, was at about $85 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate about $82.

The causes for the rise are many, however they embrace manufacturing cuts introduced earlier within the 12 months (and extended last week) by Saudi Arabia and Russia; extra indicators that the United States will keep away from a recession as inflation eases; and rising considerations because the combating in Ukraine spreads to the Black Sea, a buying and selling route utilized by vessels carrying Russian crude.