Crude rebound helps Total limit loss

French oil major Total said Thursday a recovery in crude prices, cost cutting, and increased output helped it limit a fall in its profits for the second quarter. Total pointed out that crude prices recovering from 13-year lows under $30 per barrel that they struck at the beginning of the year to an average of $46 per barrel in the second quarter had helped improve results. "Total captured the benefit of this rebound," said chief executive Patrick Pouyanne, saying that adjusted net income had cli