Oil major BP posts second-quarter profit beat despite annual drop
1. BP's Q2 profit was $2.35 billion, surpassing expectations significantly. 2. The company reported a net profit increase from $1.38 billion to $2.76 billion. 3. BP announced its largest oil and gas discovery in 25 years in Brazil. 4. Speculation around a potential takeover of BP has increased recently. 5. Shares are up 3.3% year-to-date, signaling some investor confidence.