Shell beats profit forecasts, targets lower 2017 spending

By Ron Bousso LONDON (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell reported an 18 percent rise in third-quarter profit on Tuesday, lowering next year's capital spending to the bottom of the expected range as it grapples with persistently low oil prices and weak refining margins. The Anglo-Dutch oil major, whose acquisition of BG Group transformed it into the world's top liquefied natural gas producer, has been under pressure from shareholders to cut annual spending to ensure it can maintain its dividend given t