BP Q4 beats forecast as oil spill trial looms

LONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Fourth quarter profits from shrinking British oil company BP Plc beat analysts expectations on Tuesday thanks in part to a record performance from its refining division as a trial in the U.S. over its 2010 U.S. Gulf oil spill looms later in February.

BP, the western world's No. 3 oil company and the last of the big four to report quarterly earnings, said fourth quarter net profit, adjusted for non-operating items and accounting effects, fell to $3.984 from $4.986 billion a year earlier, mainly as a result of tens of billions of dollars worth of asset sales to pay for its spill liabilities.

Analysts had expected a quarterly profit of $3.305 billion.