Strong demand for oilfield services, SLB (SLB.US) Q4 profit exceeds expectations.

SLB (SLB.US) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter profits on Friday, driven by increased demand for its drilling equipment and technology in North American and international markets. Data shows that SLB's fourth-quarter Non-GAAP earnings per share were $0.92, beating analysts' average expectation of $0.90. Offshore exploration and drilling activities in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia boosted demand for SLB's oilfield services. SLB's board approved a 3.6% increase in quarterly cash dividends to $0.285 per share. As of the time of writing, SLB's stock price has risen 2% in pre-market trading.