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Plan to raise shareholder payouts by 4% follows surprise $7.3bn profit in final quarter despite fall in gas pricesShell will raise its shareholder dividends by 4% this year despite a 30% fall in its full-year profits to $28.3bn (£22.37bn) for 2023 as global oil and gas market prices began to ease.The oil company handed its shareholders $23bn in payouts last year, and plans to...

Brent crude is up 1.7% to $78.32 a barrel as hopes of strong demand in China also push up pricesBusiness live – latest updatesOil prices have risen sharply after Iran rejected calls to end support for attacks by Houthi rebels on vessels in the Red Sea and sent a warship to the vital trading route.In the first trading session of the new year, Brent...